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Jaffna islands, sea lane issues to be settled soon

by Ranil Wijayapala

Arrangements regarding access to Jaffna islands for LTTE members to engage in political work and for the LTTE to have sea movements from the Vanni to coastal areas in the East are to be finalised by within the two weeks.

The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission, which held discussions on these issues with the LTTE last Friday, expressed optimism that the parties will find a solution to these issues between them as early as next week.

Deputy Head of Monitoring Mission Hagrup Haukland told the Daily News yesterday that the two matters were discussed at length when SLMM officials met LTTE representatives in Kilinochchi on Friday and Saturday.

The SLMM head Rtd. Major General Trond Furuhovde accompanied by his Chief of Operations, Mr. Tarmo Kauppila, flew to Kilinochchi Friday for talks on the two key issues. They met LTTE political wing leader Tamil Chelvam and other LTTE representatives during the visit.

Minor technical matters are yet to be finalised for the LTTE cadres to enter Jaffna islands to engage in political work and the SLMM expects that these matters will also be finalised within this week to settle the matter, Mr. Haukland said.

Mr. Haukland said matters regarding LTTE sea movements from the LTTE controlled areas in the North to areas in the Eastern coast are expected to be finalised within this week.

In this regard the two parties should make arrangements regarding prior notification and the timing of the LTTE sea movements, he added.

The LTTE has requested a possible sea movement from the LTTE held areas in the North to LTTE controlled areas in the East to transport their members in LTTE vessels to visit their family members.

He said SLMM officials visit to Kilinochchi was welcomed by the LTTE and there had been a positive feedback.

The discussions also focused on applying the same mode of operations which is now being practised at the Omanthai checkpoint to Muhamalai checkpoint too, Haukland added.

Meanwhile Rtd Major General Trond Furuhovde after his visit to Kilinochchi has said that important signs of the building of mutual confidence between the Sri Lankan Government and the LTTE leadership have emerged during the discussions.

According to Furuhovde, both parties have shown significant flexibility and will find a solution during these talks, which has created a good and positive atmosphere.

"I'm very satisfied with these talks and have found them to be extremely constructive. This emerging mutual confidence of both parties is exactly what is needed for strengthening the Ceasefire Agreement, and eventually a lasting peace in Sri Lanka," Furuhovde has said after his briefing with the Prime Minister's Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process, just after arriving from Kilinochchi to Colombo on Saturday. 

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