Sri Lanka asks Prabhakaran to give up arms

Buoyed by the recent military success against the Tamil Tigers, Sri Lankan government on Thursday asked the elusive LTTE supremo V Prabhakaran to lay down arms.

"Wherever Prabhakaran is, he will be knowing about the all party representative committee (APRC ) recommendations that have called for an interim council for north as a temporary measure until the elections are held there. He should lay down arms," Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama told reporters.

Bogollagama said the security forces had achieved a major success in their battle against the Tiger rebels in the island`s restive northern region.

Earlier, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse had said the APRC recommendations were not meant for "terrorists."

The Foreign Minister, who was briefing the media persons after his discussions with heads of missions on the interim report on devolution proposals which was submitted to Rajapakse yesterday, said the APRC under the chairmanship of Tissa Vitarana will continue to work on the recommendations.

The APRC was set up in 2006 and held about 60 meetings before finalising the interim package recommending setting up of autonomous provincial councils in north and eastern part of the country.

Replying to a question, Bogollagama said the Sri Lanka donor co-chairs group -- Norway, US, EU and Japan -- and the heads of missions including from India were supportive of the proposals when he provided details to them about the APRC recommendations.

Source: ZEE NEWS