India invites pro-LTTE Lankan party for talks

India has invited pro-LTTE TNA for talks in New Delhi next week to discuss the course of action after war but the Sri Lankan Tamil party is not enthused as it is upset over India's "silence" during the military offensive.

India has invited pro-LTTE TNA for talks in New Delhi next week to discuss the course of action after war but the Sri Lankan Tamil party is not enthused as it is upset over India's "silence" during the military offensive.

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Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon has invited TNA leaders for talks on April 15 and 16, the first time in recent years when an ethnic Tamil party close to LTTE has been called for discussions.

TNA, with 22 MPs in Sri Lankan Parliament, discussed the invitation at a meeting where a majority of leaders were of the strong view that this was not the time for talks with India, party MP N Srikantha told PTI over phone from Colombo.

"The Indian government has not taken any meaningful step to bring about a ceasefire in Sri Lanka. Instead, India has been an active partner in the war," he said, giving reasons for his party's disinterest in such a meeting.

Srikantha said "majority of the lawmakers opposed a TNA delegation meeting with Indian officials given the fact that India has never asked Sri Lanka to stop the war in which innocent civilians are being killed."

He said the TNA delegation is willing to meet any Indian official if India takes "diplomatic efforts to get an immediate ceasefire."

The party is, however, yet to convey its decision to New Delhi.