Taboo on Tigers in South Africa - SA President

The President of South Africa Thabo Mbeki said the LTTE would not be allowed to operate in South Africa and support terrorism in Sri Lanka. He pledged his government's support to find a political solution to the Lankan ethnic crisis.

The South African Head of State made this assurance when the Minister and the Eelam People's Democratic Party leader Douglas Devananda along with the Tamil United Liberation Front leader V. Anandasangaree met him at his office in Johannesburg on Thursday.

Minister Devananda also handed over a letter written by President Mahinda Rajapaksa to the South African leader outlining the efforts taken by his Government to address the ethnic crisis in Sri Lanka and urging South Africa to support the peace process.

Following an extensive discussion with the TULF and the EPDP leaders South African President Thabo Mbeki expressed his satisfaction over the political initiatives taken by the Lankan Government to end the ethnic crisis in the island and also pointed out that unity among all political sides was vital to settle the crisis. He also reiterated that South Africa would not permit its territory to be used as a hideout for the LTTE.

The EPDP and the TULF leaders who were on a five-day tour in South Africa arrived in Johannesburg on April 23.

Prior to the meeting with the SA Head of State they also met several senior ministers of the SA cabinet and appraised them on the Lankan issue.

The Tamil leaders also had discussions with several Tamil organisations of Indian origin and sought their support for the Lankan peace process.

The EPDP leader Douglas Devananda in his capacity as the Minister of Social Services and Social Welfare had an elaborate discussion with the South African Social Development Minister Dr. Zola Iskwela on issues with regard to social services, social welfare and social development activities.

Both Ministers also agreed to have closer ties over the social services programmes between the two countries in the future.