Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga hopes that a proposed joint mechanism for relief work for tsunami victims could lead the LTTE to "embrace democracy".
Addressing a gathering of her Freedom Party on Friday night,Kumaratunga said she expected the mechanism to form a basis for resuming the stalled peace talks with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
"The LTTE can also start doing democratic politics just like the other parties which at one time killed people and indulged in violence-based politics," the president said referring to her main coalition partner, the JVP or the People's Liberation Front.
The JVP is opposed to the joint mechanism proposal, claiming it would give the LTTE recognition.
Kumaratunga said seven of the eight parties in her United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) coalition agree with the joint mechanism.
"I hope the JVP also would realise that a mechanism is needed,"she added.
The JVP has threatened to walk out of Kumaratunga's government if the joint mechanism is implemented.
The government's parliamentary majority hinges on the 39 seats held by the JVP in the ruling UPFA coalition.
Political analysts, however, said the JVP was unlikely to rock the boat and make the Kumaratunga governmentfall as then it would open the door for the main opposition United National Party to return to power.
Addressing a gathering of her Freedom Party on Friday night,Kumaratunga said she expected the mechanism to form a basis for resuming the stalled peace talks with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
"The LTTE can also start doing democratic politics just like the other parties which at one time killed people and indulged in violence-based politics," the president said referring to her main coalition partner, the JVP or the People's Liberation Front.
The JVP is opposed to the joint mechanism proposal, claiming it would give the LTTE recognition.
Kumaratunga said seven of the eight parties in her United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) coalition agree with the joint mechanism.
"I hope the JVP also would realise that a mechanism is needed,"she added.
The JVP has threatened to walk out of Kumaratunga's government if the joint mechanism is implemented.
The government's parliamentary majority hinges on the 39 seats held by the JVP in the ruling UPFA coalition.
Political analysts, however, said the JVP was unlikely to rock the boat and make the Kumaratunga governmentfall as then it would open the door for the main opposition United National Party to return to power.
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