Colombo, Apr. 14 : Sri Lanka''s Tamil Tiger rebels have said that they are ready to negotiate a permanent ceasefire with government forces.

In a statement reported by the BBC, the rebels said they were prepared to open political talks to halt decades of bloodshed.

The government announced a unilateral two-day halt to the fighting beginning Monday, to allow the civilians trapped in the conflict zone to leave.

The Tigers said the two-day truce was an attempt by the authorities to deceive the international community.

In a statement, the rebels said they were ready for an internationally supervised truce and that such a ceasefire should also contain a base for political solutions.

"The LTTE [Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam] has for long been requesting a permanent ceasefire encompassing sensible military and political essence. This, the LTTE still reiterates. Such a ceasefire should also contain a base for political negotiations," the statement said.

"The LTTE desires that it should also create a conducive climate for a permanent political resolution to the national question of the Tamils in a peaceful way. The LTTE is ready to comply without any conditions to a ceasefire as described above," it added.

The statement came on the second day of the truce announced by the government. (ANI)