Govt will open A9 when LTTE hostilities cease - Chief Negotiator

Rohan Mathes

COLOMBO: Head of the Government peace delegation Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva vouched to open the A9 highway, when the LTTE ceases its hostilities and normality prevails in Jaffna. Speaking to journalists at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday, Minister De Silva said: "We have no intention of keeping the A9 highway closed forever. This is only a temporary closure.

We will re-open the A9 highway, based on the good performance and the assurance of the LTTE, that their hostilities will cease."

He also pledged that the Government will take all possible steps at their disposal to ensure the provision of food and other essential items to Jaffna despite the risks and threats of the Tigers and urged the LTTE to cooperate with the Government in this humanitarian effort.

Member of the Government delegation minister Rohitha Bogollagama who also addressed the media conference told journalists that the LTTE had a hidden agenda in insisting on the re-opening of A9.

"It was only on the second day that this issue of Muhamalai was raised as a precondition for a date for talks, at a time when the Government was fully committed for peace and had even fixed two dates with the LTTE for future talks the previous day," he added.