Pope Benedict, in his traditional Easter message called on Sri Lankan warring parties to come back to negotiations to end violence. Pope made the appeal in his Easter Message at St.Perter’s Squre.

Pope stressed that Sri Lanka‘s need of the moment is peace. We quote him: “In Sri Lanka, only a negotiated solution can put an end to the conflict that causes so much blood Shed.”

The human rights violations in Sri Lanka have caused damage to the international image of the country. It is unfortunate that the Tamil people have to live as refugees in their own country. Pope has quite rightly appealed to put an end to this human tragedy. AS the pope himself has suggested, violence must be brought to an end and all must come forward to find a negotiated settlement.

Meanwhile, the LTTE has offered to commence peace talks if the Ceasefire Agreement is fully implemented. They made this offer when the SLMM held talks with S.Pulithevan, Director LTTE Peace Secretariat at Killinochchi.

It must be recalled that there was peace when the CFA was honoured and fully implemented and peace started to totter only when the CFA became a dead letter.

When the entire world talks of Peace, Sri Lanka cannot move along a different direction. It may not be prudent to do so.

International Community is concerned that Tamils are oppressed and that their rights are denied.

We appeal to all parties to the problem to create an atmosphere for peace talks.

An English translation of the Editorial in Virakesari, a Tamil daily, based in Colombo

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