President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga said in Paris on Monday that the Government was prepared to talk to the LTTE if they do not impose any conditions, states an Information Department press release.

"There is a ray of opportunity, more hope for reaching a solution. Our doors are always open for negotiations with the LTTE. But we will not entertain any conditions imposed by the LTTE", President Kumaratunga told the Sri Lanka Development Forum at the World Bank building.

"We will endeavour to do all that is possible to bring the LTTE to the negotiating table. The LTTE leader’s meeting with the Norwegian delegation offers a ray of hope, but it is still not very clear whether the LTTE has abandoned its previous conditions including the demand that all Security Forces personnel be withdrawn from the North", the President said.

The President, in her address to the Development Forum, expressed the hope that LTTE would not put forward any conditions this time, including the withdrawal of Armed Forces from the North. She categorically said the Government would not withdraw troops from the North under any circumstances.

"As for the LTTE’s demand for a withdrawal of Armed Forces from the North, more than 80 per cent of the people living in predominantly Tamil areas have implored the Government not to let the LTTE gain control of their areas again", the President explained.

She emphasised that the ethnic problem could be solved with or without the agreement of the LTTE if the rights and safety of minorities can be guaranteed through a new socio-political framework inspired by the proposed new Constitution.

"Tamils do not need this violence and war". They only want their safety and rights and a peaceful atmosphere to live in amity with other communities.

Thus ending the war is a top priority for the Government".

She said the Government has thus adopted a three-pronged approach to solve the North-East problem — negotiate a political settlement with the LTTE, evolve a political-Constitutional framework and expedite development in the war-torn areas.

She told the delegates that the proposed Constitutional Reforms have been subject to the "widest possible consultation" at all levels of society including the clergy. They have also gained the support of Tamil and Muslim parties.

"If we hold a referendum tomorrow, the majority of the people will say yes to the new Constitution and devolution. The majority of the population will support us. It must be said that ultra-chauvinist Sinhala parties fared very, very badly at the last General Election. Our Government, which has always advocated devolution of power and rights for minorities, has won seven elections in a row".

She thanked the donor countries and organisations for helping Sri Lanka to accelerate development.

The World Bank’s Vice President for the South Asian Region Mieko Nishimizu, who made the introductory remarks, expressed the fervent hope that the Forum would enable the development partners "to learn together how we can advance a partnership to assist the people of Sri Lanka to unleash their true potential".

The Lankan delegation includes Industrial Development and Constitutional Affairs Minister and Deputy Finance Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris, Samurdhi Rural Development, Parliamentary Affairs and Upcountry Development Minister and Deputy Finance Minister S. B. Dissanayake, Urban Development, Construction and Public Utilities Minister Mangala Samaraweera, Higher Education and Information Technology Minister Indika Gunawardane, Central Bank Governor A. S. Jayawardena, Treasury Secretary P. B. Jayasundera, Education Secretary Prof. L. Gunawardhane, Finance Deputy Secretary Faiz Mohideen, and IMF Alternate Executive Director R. A. Jayatissa.