06 March, 2006 - Published 20:37 GMT

UNP calls for direct talks

The main opposition in Sri Lanka, United National Party (UNP), has demanded government engage in talks with them parallel to talks with the Tamil Tigers.

Senior UNP lawmaker Dr. Jayalath Jayawardhane said that the party urged President Rajapaksa to conduct direct talks with the UNP and opposition leader Ranil Wickramasinghe.

But Dr. Jayawardhana avoided answering repeated questions by BBC Sandeshaya as to why the party did not involve any other political party in the peace process while in power.

Wickramasinghe was accused of not even informing the then President, Chandrika Kumaratunga, before signing the Cease Fire Agreement (CFA) with the LTTE in 2002.

The UNP has made this demand at the All Party Conference (APC) called by President Mahinda Rajapaksa to discuss the strategy for the next round of talks with the LTTE.

UNP deputy leader Karu Jayasuriya and former peace negotiators represented the party at the APC.

UNP parliamentarian added that President Rajapaksa and chief negotiator of the Sri Lanka Government, Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, agreed to accommodate their request.

All political parties, apart from the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), that are represented in the parliament took part in the APC on Monday.