SLMM repudiates SL minister's claim on paramilitaries

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 15 March 2006, 09:53 GMT]
Sri Lanka Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera on being interviewed by BBC in London, told that Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) report had proved there were no armed groups operating in government controlled areas, reported Daily Mirror, a Sri Lanka English daily Tuesday. The minister's claim was rejected by the SLMM, added the daily.

Helen Olfsdottir, SLMM spokesperson strongly rejected the Foreign Minister's claim saying the ceasefire monitors had always maintained that armed groups were operating in government-controlled areas, said the news paper.

Batticaloa District Political Head of the LTTE, Daya Mohan, asked by the daily to comment on the claim of the SL foreign minister, responded that the minister was promoting war by discrediting the LTTE during his overseas trip.