Military solution not answer to armed conflict in Sri Lanka: international donors

Sri Lanka's international donors have warned that a military solution was not the answer to the island's separatist armed conflict and a solution should be negotiated with the Tamil Tigers through a political package.

Some 50 countries and 200 international organizations are taking part in the 2-day Sri Lanka Donor Forum which got underway in the southern resort town of Galle, 115 kms south of Colombo, on Monday.

"No amount of development assistance by the United States or any other donor can have lasting impact without finding a permanent solution to the conflict," the U.S. Ambassador Robert O' Blake told the forum also attended by Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse.

Blake added that he would urge Sri Lanka to "forge a strong legislative majority that will support a credible power sharing proposal (with the Tamil Tiger rebels)".

Similar sentiments were expressed by the Japanese government representative Reiichiro Takahashi.

"The nation's future is at stake, it is through dialogue and non violence that the conflict could be resolved," said Takahashi.

Praful Patel, the World Bank Vice President said that "a development vision cannot exist independently of the conflict."

President Rajapakse in his address assured that his government was committed to a negotiated settlement.

The chief of the Treasury P. B. Jayasundera said the country was looking forward to converting into commitments some 1.5 billion dollars worth of pledges.

The donors' warnings came as the government recently clinched a major military victory over the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam by annexing a Tiger stronghold in the Eastern Province.

Analysts say the government has embarked on a military strategy aimed at weakening the rebels before inviting them to rejoin the Norwegian backed peace process.

Source: Xinhua