Minister Samaraweera addressing the media

In a gathering of ruling coalition partners on Tuesday to support the presidential candidate Mahinda Rajapaksa, Minister Samaraweera said that it is "totally wrong" to say that going to discussions with the LTTE is a "cowardly move".

He said that President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge has never gone for discussions with the LTTE from a weakened position.

'Speculation'

Commenting on future talks with Tamil Tigers he further added, "this is mere speculation".

Dew Gunasekara of the Communist Party said that Presidential Candidate Rajapaksa has demonstrated a "principled commitment to build national unity."

The LTTE earlier announced its willingness to hold direct, high level talks with the Sri Lankan government.

The Norwegian deputy foreign minister, Vidar Helgesen, who described it as a really significant step forward for the peace process against the backdrop of the killing of former foreign minister Laxman Kadirgamar said the Tigers had agreed to discuss implementation of the ceasefire agreement after what has been a serious downward slide in the truce.

However, the ruling coalitions estranged partner, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) led a demonstration in Colombo on Tuesday accusing the Tamil Tigers of using the Cease Fire Agreement to "wage a unanimous war".

Talking to the BBC Sinhala service during the demonstration JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva said that the "government should not fall into the Tiger trap" by getting back to talks.