COLOMBO, June 12: The Sri Lankan government said on Monday that it would push for talks with the Tamil Tigers on the Norwegian-backed peace process despite the breakdown in last week’s talks in Oslo. Palitha Kohona, a government spokesman, told Dawn on his return from Oslo that the government would continue with the peace process, urging the Tamil Tigers (LTTE) to come forward for direct talks.

“Of course there is no question of reverting to war, ” Mr Kohona said.

At the same time, he defended a request made by Sri Lanka to Pakistan for military assistance as ‘nothing unusual’.

Defence sources confirmed that Sri Lanka had sought military equipment worth $60 million dollars from Pakistan.

“It is the right of a sovereign state to build up its military assets,” Mr Kohona declared, claiming that the request for arms was‘no indication’ that the Lankan government was preparing for war with the LTTE.

“The government will shortly communicate to Norway that it wants the talks to move ahead,” the spokesman said.