Colombo: The government has postponed the crucial talks with Sri Lanka`s main Tamil party TNA to find a solution to the political aspirations of the minority ethnic community after the end of a three-decade civil war in May 2009.
The direct talks between the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and the Sri Lankan authorities, which was scheduled for tomorrow, was put off due as members of the government delegation were busy with the local elections scheduled for October 8, said Colombo Page online newspaper. The report said no date has been set for the talks, which was resumed on September 16 after being stalled for several months.
At the end of the 10th round of talks held in early August, the Tamil party threatened to withdraw from the talks on power devolution if the government fails to step up the pace for a meaningful resolution of the ethnic issue.
The talks are based on the proposals of the TNA, former President Chandrika Kumaratunga and the recommendations of the experts` panel appointed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa in 2006, the report said. The talks aims to find a peaceful solution to the political grievances of the Tamils of Sri Lanka which led to a bloody three-decade civil war between the government and the LTTE.
The LTTE had sought a separate state for the Tamils, alleging discrimination against the minority community at the hands of the majority Sinhalas.
The LTTE was crushed by the Lankan military in May 2009, ended the ethnic conflict that killed between 80,000 and 100,000 people.
PTI