Mahinda Rajapakse on Saturday made a fresh offer to the Tamil rebels for talks for a 'political solution' to the ethnic conflict.
COLOMBO: In a bid to revive the stalled peace process, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse on Saturday made a fresh offer to the Tamil rebels for talks for a "political solution" to the ethnic conflict, but vowed to "tame" the Tigers if they continued their violence.
On a visit to the eastern town of Vakarai that was recently wrested from the rebels by the army after a bloody battle, Rajapakse asked the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam to lay down arms in exchange for a "political solution" to the decades-old separatist movement.
"This is a big opportunity for the Tamil Tigers to return to the negotiating table... I will offer them a political solution and they should come for talks," Rajapakse told reporters in Vakarai, 330 km east of Colombo.
"I don't believe in a military solution but I believe in defending my country and believe that we all are Sri Lankans," he said.
However, if the rebels were to refuse the olive branch, Rajapakse said "in that case we will have to tame the Tigers."
Weeks of fighting in Vakarai killed 45 army personnel and 331 rebels, according to government count. Some 30,000 people fled to the safety of neighbouring towns after fighting broke out.
"What we have done is to liberate the people from terrorists," he said. "I am here to thank the troops for their action without causing a single civilian casualty."
"We want to start clearing mines in the next two weeks to allow all civilians to return," he said.
Rajapakse's brother Basil said the rebels could lay down arms in a phased manner if they gave an initial firm commitment to decommission.
"The laying down of arms can be done in a stage-by-stage basis," Basil, who was accompanying Rajapakse, said.
Rajapakse flew into Vakarai in a military helicopter and travelled along the coastal town.
Vakarai was also one of the worst-hit towns in the December 2004 tsunami, which devastated large coastal areas of the island. Rajapakse said although internal aid poured for the victims, little was seen here.
Accompanied by the top military brass, Rajapakse flew to neighbouring Trincomalee district where security forces won another key location Sampur from the rebels last year.
"I am here to convey the gratitude of the nation to you at a time we are marking the 59th independence anniversary," he said.
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