Rajapaksa rules out separate Tamil homeland

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has ruled out Tiger's demand for a separate homeland in the island's North and East.

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Monday ruled out Tamil Tiger demands for a separate homeland in the island's north and east, but said he would rein in armed groups — a central rebel demand ahead of crunch talks.

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"There's only one country, we can share power. Not a separate state. That idea must be taken off ... It is completely out," Rajapaksa said ahead of upcoming talks with the rebels in Switzerland to avoid a slide back to war.