July 11, Colombo: The chief negotiator of the Sri Lanka government representation for the Geneva Peace talks Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said that the government would take steps to reach a political settlement to the ethnic problem after the liberation of Thoppigala in Eastern Province from the Tamil Tiger’s hold.

The Minister expressed these views addressing a meeting held in his electorate Badulla to open a bus stand at Atampitiya town.

Meanwhile the security forces that captured the last bastion of the Tamil Tigers in the Eastern Province hoisted the national lion flag on the Thoppigala hill. The security forces are to hand over the official document of the consolidation of power in the entire Eastern Province to the President Mahinda Rajapaksa ceremoniously on 19th July.