Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call on the government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE to declare and honour an immediate ceasefire of hostilities. They must allow a full, safe and unhindered access for the evacuation of the sick and the wounded, and the delivery of much-needed humanitarian assistance to civilians. I support the actions of our foreign affairs minister who is delivering new aid and has made strong calls for a ceasefire.
There is no military solution to this conflict. All efforts must be made to avoid civilian casualties. Only a durable political solution can bring peace to the people of Sri Lanka. That is why I am calling on both the government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE to renounce violence, lay down their arms and usher in a new era of peace.