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The Under Secretary Burns is on a fact finding visit to Sri Lanka, in view of the increased violence in the North and East, and moves to resume peace talks. |
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United States Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs
R. Nicholas Burns when he met Sri Lankan President Mahinda
Rajapaksa today, Monday, January 23, 2006, at Temple Trees,
Colombo, Sri Lanka. |
Under Secretary Burns was able to learn more of the nature of the
violence in Sri Lanka today, as a powerful landmine, killed three
soldiers in Batticaloa this morning (23).
The blast also wounded several others and raised the total number of
deaths since violence escalated in November 2005 to 149, including 81
troops. The blast took place as troops were sweeping a main highway for
mines. It is believed the explosion was caused by a landmine buried
by the LTTE.
In addition to Under Secretary Burns, the Norwegian Special Peace Envoy
Erik Solheim and the LTTE's theoretician Anton Balasingham, resident in
the UK, also arrived here for discussions which are expected make
arrangements to resume peace talks between the Government and the LTTE.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa has said he is ready to meet with the LTTE
for talks, in keeping with mandate from the All Party Conference he
summoned last week, which called on him to resume immediate talks with
the LTTE. He has said the first priority is to get the LTTE to come to
the negotiating table, and then ask them to put an end to the violence.
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Last Updated
Date: January 23, 2005 - 13.30 GMT
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President meets Under Secretary Burns |