President Rajapaksa has invited LTTE to engage in direct talks

Head of LTTE Peace Secretariat, S Pulidevan, told BBC Sandeshaya that the organisation has no intention of sidelining the peace facilitators.

“There have been some attempts by Mahinda Rajapaksa government to make direct links with the LTTE sidelining the Norwegian facilitators,” he added.

But the rebels have refused to enter into negotiations with the government without the support of the international community.

There have been some attempts by Mahinda Rajapaksa government to make direct links with the LTTE sidelining the Norwegian facilitators   S Pulidevan

“We firmly informed the Norwegian facilitators that we would like to keep them as the official channel between the parties,” Pulidevan added.

The history of the peace process in Sri Lanka, says Pulidevan, has proved that the parties lack confidence on each other to bring the process forward.

The LTTE categorically denied Sri Lanka media reports that Head of political wing SP Thamilselvan responded to an offer by the President to engage in direct talks.

“President Rajapaksa tried, but we informed the Norwegians of our intention to keep them as our official channel,” Pulidevan told bbcsinahala.com.