LTTE says Rajapaksa was given 'ample time' to build confidence

LTTE military spokesman Rasiah Ilanthirayan said the rebels have given ‘ample opportunity’ for Mahinda Rajapaksa to create an environment for the peace talks.

Listen to Rasiah Ilanthirayan

“Neither Mr. Rajapaksa nor the government managed to fulfil the Geneva pledges or fully implement the Cease Fire Agreement (CFA),” he told bbcsinhala.com.

Geneva talks

Both parties pledged to curb violence against each other in the talks held in Geneva in February.

But the violence increased in the north and the east soon after resulting with hundreds of deaths from both parties.

The United Nations said over 200,000 are displaced as a result of increased violence.

Ilanthirayan reiterated that the LTTE was only engaged in what they called defensive operations since Rajapaksa took office in November, last year.

Assurance from Prabhakaran

President Rajapaksa has told the BBC in Havana that the government troops were engaged only in “defensive operations”.

The LTTE spokesman added that the CFA signed with the Government is the "base for assurance" from the LTTE leader.

"We have already signed a document with the Colombo administration which is the base for our assurance," he told BBC Sandeshaya.

The Government has urged an assurance from LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran that the LTTE will cease violence before the proposed talks in October.