Co-Chairs' ambassadors meet Sri Lanka's President

[TamilNet, Monday, 09 October 2006, 09:31 GMT]
Co-Chairs' ambassadors in Colombo Monday morning met with Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapakse and expressed their concern about the continuous hostilities between the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) troops and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) even after both parties agreed to resume peace talks during the later part of October. The meeting comes following an urgent LTTE warning to the truce monitors Saturday that Sri Lanka Army (SLA) was readying for an offensive in the Northern Front.



Last Wednesday, Sri Lankan Army Commander Sarath Fonseka, reportedly told the Co-Chairs' ambassadors that the Sri Lankan military would continue with "pre-emptive" strikes in a bid to "curb terrorism notwithstanding with the ceasefire agreement."

SLA commander had further told the Co-Chairs ambassadors last week that whatever the military does in LTTE territory was a defensive business, according to informed media sources.

Sri Lanka's President is the Commander-in-Chief of the GoSL armed forces.

Ambassadors of United States of America (USA), Japan, Norway and Germany representing the European Union (EU) met the Sri Lankan President at Temple Trees residence Monday.

Co-Chair envoys on Monday were reported to have discussed with Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse the urgent need of ceasing all hostilities in the lead up to October 28 talks.

They also expressed their fullest support for the resumption of talks between the warring parties.

Norwegian special peace envoy Jon Hanssen Bauer last week briefed Co-Chairs ambassadors on the latest developments following the agreement by the Government of Sri Lanka and Tigers to resume peace talks again.



The Co-Chair delegation's meeting with SL President comes after a Sri Lankan offensive on LTTE controlled Vaharai last week.

A fighting formation of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) forces under the supervision of LTTE Speicial Commander Col. Sornam, "boxed" an area of 10 square kilometers and defeated a Sri Lankan offensive towards LTTE controlled territory in Vaharai Friday.

Liberation Tigers Trincomalee District Political Head S. Elilan who handed over the dead bodies of 11 Sri Lankan soldiers, including a Major rank official, charged Sunday that Sri Lankan forces continued to violate the Ceasefire Agreement even after parties agreeing for talks. GoSL also violated the Geneva Agreement on disarming paramilitary cadres February this year, Elilan further charged.

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