Asia willing to fill EU vacuum in SLMM crisis - Defence Spokesman

Rashomi Silva

COLOMBO:With the scheduled departure of the three EU nations Sweden, Denmark and Finland from the truce Monitoring Mission, early next month, the Government said yesterday some Asian countries have agreed to come forward to fill the vacuum.

Government Defence Spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said: "There are some Asian countries and even some EU counties that have agreed to send members for Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM)" declining to name them.

"We are open for negotiations and discussions and it is the LTTE which always presents some obstacle", he said adding that the international community, donor co-chairs and the Norwegian facilitator should try to persuade the LTTE to be more flexible.

"We are ready to start talks immediately, but the point we want to make clear is that on no account will we endanger the National security," he said.

He said the Government has agreed to Norway's request to increase monitors to 30 after the departure of the three EU nations.

With 57-strong Monitoring Mission expected to lose more than two-thirds of its monitors, the Government, facilitator and the LTTE agreed to 'slightly' increase Norwegian and Iceland monitors and the SLMM will function with half its strength from September 1.