By Sandun A Jayasekera

Sri Lanka yesterday called on the International Community to pressure the LTTE to permit civilians to crossover to government controlled areas so that the security forces could end humanitarian operations soon.

Against the backdrop of rising turmoil in India’s Tamil Nadu State over the Sri Lankan Tamil issue, Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said Sri Lanka’s relationship with India was cordial and friendly as ever and that Sri Lanka was aware of India’s concerns on the developments here.

“At our invitation, Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee is coming to Sri Lanka on Friday to take part in the SAARC foreign ministers’ conference. His itinerary will include bi-lateral talks with Sri Lankan leaders,” he said.

Minister Bogollagama said the foreign media had failed to expose LTTE’s brutality and savagery.

“They have failed to highlight the reality and to detail the inhuman behaviour by the terrorists and their cruelty. They have also failed to underline the message that Sri Lanka’s conflict will end no sooner terrorism is eradicated,” he said. Adding that it was the duty of the local media to tell the world about the sufferings brought on the people by the LTTE.

The Minister said Sri Lanka had full confidence in the donor co-chairs and believed they would attend to the immediate humanitarian needs of the Northern people and in the meantime urge the LTTE to surrender.

He said that with regard to the British government sending a ‘Special Envoy’ to Sri Lanka to study and file a report on the humanitarian situation was “not negotiable”.  

“Sri Lanka is more than happy to accept any advice or assistance from a friendly country. But if such a friendly country wants to send a ‘Special Envoy’ it must be done on a mutual agreement,” Minister Bogollagama said.

Courtesy: dailymirror.lk