Referring to an interview which appeared in a Sunday newspaper of the LTTE's political wing leader Tamilchelvam who demanded talks with the government without conditions, Kumaratunga, at a Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) convention on Tuesday, insinuated that the unnamed journalist who conducted the interview was none other than a UNP member of parliament.

Ruling out unconditional talks with the LTTE, she alleged that there was a link between the LTTE's call and the recent demand by UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinhge for unconditional talks with the Tigers.

Kumaratunga informed her party members that the vehicle in which the UNP MP travelled into LTTE-controlled area in the northern Vanni jungles for a meeting with Tamilchelvam was under arrest. The CID, which was investigating the incident, was also considering action against the parliamentarian, she said.

With this, Kumaratunga has effectively spike the hope that had arisen in some sections of the international media that peace talks were once again on the horizon after a flurry of recent statements about negotiations.

If anything, the statements from the government, Opposition and the LTTE demonstrate the deep chasm that still exists not just between the Sinhalese majority and the Tamils, but in the Sinhalese dominated polity as well.

Kumaratunga has vowed to carry on the military offensive against the LTTE and refused to hold negotiations with it until the group dropped its demand for Eelam and surrender. But, both the demands were rejected by Tamilchelvam in the recent interview, the first by an LTTE leader since 1995.

Kumaratunga alleged that by joining the LTTE bandwagon with its demand for unconditional talks, the UNP was dividing the country. ``One of the main conditions for talks is that the country should remain undivided. By calling for unconditional talks, is Ranil asking for country's division?'' Kumaratunga asked.

She said her appeals to Wickremesinghe for a bi-partisan approach to the devolution proposals had not evoked a positive response. Instead, the UNP was hatching a conspiracy with the LTTE to overthrow her government, she charged.