ஹிலாரி கிளின்ரன் ஜனாதிபதியுடன் தொலைபேசி மூலம் பேச்சுவார்த்தை

US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, called on President Mahinda Rajapaksa this evening (March 13), to express condolences on behalf of the US Government and President Barack Obama regarding the LTTE attack on a Muslim religious ceremony in Akuressa on Tuesday, March 10, 2009.

Clinton also expressed satisfaction about the Government’s current efforts to bring about lasting peace to the North. She reiterated the commitment of the US Government to provide financial and other assistance to develop the North and East. She also endorsed the humanitarian mission to liberate the innocent civilians currently in the clutches of the LTTE terrorists, and especially the measures in place to minimize harm to civilians in the conflict zone.

President Rajapksa, while thanking the US Government for all assistance rendered, stated that there are still around 50,000 civilians held captive by the LTTE in its last remaining foothold in the Mullaitivu District and that the Government has been continuously supplying food, medicine and other essential goods to these areas. He pointed out that the LTTE fired upon a ship that was carrying these items to the civilian population.

President Rajapaksa also said that a political solution to the justifiable grievances of the Tamil people is being formulated by the All Party Representatives Committee and that local government elections will be held at the earliest in order to reestablish democratic structures and processes in the Northern Province.