August 10, 2002	Saturday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 30,1423

COLOMBO, Aug 9: President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge, in an address to the nation on Friday, said she has urged Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinge that talks with the LTTE should begin “without any further delay”.

Kumaratunge said that she had reliable reports that while the ceasefire agreement is in force, the LTTE is engaged in establishing its own law courts and legal system in their territories.

She alleged that the LTTE is also involved in arms smuggling and conscription of children.

President Kumaratunge addressed the nation in a move to appease the public tension over the rising political hustle between her and the prime minister.

“I am not prepared to aggravate the state of political confusion prevailing today by holding another election. I am also not inclined to further aggravate the crisis faced by the economy and by business, which would invariably happen during an election campaign.

“I am also clearly of the view that it would be most unsatisfactory to hold an election in a climate of political violence, before setting up the Elections Commission and the Police Commission and giving them time to function effectively, as was proposed in the 17th Amendment to the Constitution brought in by the People’s Alliance Government”, President Kumaratunge said.

However, she said that peace should be attained within a framework that would ensure equal rights for all communities living in the country.