COLOMBO, Nov 29: Despite a hard hitting speech by Tiger rebel leader Vellupillai Prabhakaran on Sunday insisting on a Tamil homeland and self-determination, President Mahinda Rajapakse has stuck to his initial statements of peace within a unitary state that will not entertain a Tamil homeland.

At a meeting with the diplomatic community on Monday the president reiterated that the peace process will be carried forward according to the outlines given in his policy statement last week which indicated a unitary state that will prevent a Tamil homeland.

“With regard to achieving lasting peace through a negotiated political solution, I have already given the broad policy outlines of my approach in my statement after the swearing-in on November 19.

“My deep commitment to pursuing the process through broad based consultations and with the assistance of all those friendly countries, which have helped us in the past, needs no reiteration,” president Rajapakse said.

“We can resume work immediately on reviewing the operation of the ceasefire,’’ the president said.