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SLFP seeks dialogue with the LTTE
By Harinda Vidanage
The SLFP is wooing the LTTE in a bid to pave the way for direct peace talks between the two sides. The Sunday Times learns that informal contacts have been made through link groups of the LTTE over the past few months and the party is trying to establish closer links.

SLFP sources said the recent visit of party whip Mangala Samaraweera to London was aimed at developing the contacts with the LTTE link groups there.

Mr. Samaraweera whose London visit marred by a fingerprint controversy with the British High Commission over his visa, could not be contacted in London. He was earlier scheduled to return tomorrow but reports say he may now stay on till January 17 for more informal talks with groups linked to the LTTE.

Reports say the groundwork for this SLFP-LTTE links was laid by party advisor and Kumaratunga confidant Sripathi Sooriyarachchi during a visit to London. He is reported to have sought the facilitation of a European parliamentarian to establish more contacts with the LTTE.

These developments come in the wake of a statement by LTTE's one-time spokesman Anton Balasingham that the LTTE was willing to talk to any southern leaders, provided they had control over security matters.

While Mr. Samaraweera reportedly tries to make contacts in London, President Chandrika Kumaratunga in an interview with the Indian news agency PTI in Islamabad repeated her charge that the LTTE was building up and continuing other illegal acts such as child recruitment.

Meanwhile, the LTTE has not formally responded to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's statement that the government might have to pull out of the ceasefire agreement if President Kumaratunga did not give back the three key ministries and thereby the power to implement the agreement.

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