TNA says LTTE is Sri Lankan Tamils' "sole representative"

TNA parliamentarian MK Sivajilingam told BBC Sandeshaya that Mahinda Rajapaksa should restart talks with Tamil Tigers if he is genuine in his efforts to end the bloodshed.

"We were given a mandate to regard the LTTE as sole representatives of the Tamils," he said.

'Suspicious' invitation

Addressing the nation on Independence Day at Galle Face Green, President Rajapaksa invited TNA to attend All Party Conference (APC).

	Rajapaksa invited TNA to help his efforts to end bloodshed

There is n no other way than join hands with his administration to "safeguard Tamils from terrorism and violence and liberate Tamils in the north", he said.

The TNA says it views the invitation as suspicious.

"We are suspicious as to why the President who did not invite us to APC saying he wanted get southern consensus now asking for our help," Sivajilingam told bbcsinhala.com.

'State terrorism'

President urged the TNA to help "liberate Tamils" from terrorism and violence.

The TNA legislator says the government must first put an end to what he called "state terrortism".

President Rajapaksa should also try to explore a federal devolution model as a first step towards ending violence, he added.

Sivajilingam however expressed doubts whether Rajapaksa administration support a federal solution.