Alternate land route if LTTE thwarts A9 reopening

Minister tells Co-Chairs

Manjula Fernando

COLOMBO: Government Chief negotiator Nimal Siripala de Silva yesterday assured the Co-Chairs of the Tokyo donor conference that it would seek an alternative land route to ensure an unrestricted flow of essential items to the North within a couple of days if the LTTE delays the reopening of the A9 with continuing attacks.

Briefing the Heads of Missions and the Co-Chairs of the Peace Process at the Foreign Ministry yesterday, Minister de Silva underlined the Government's commitment to ensure a free flow of food supplies to the peninsular.

He said the matter was discussed at the Security Council meeting attended by the three Forces Chief where the means of looking into an alternative land route was discussed in the event the reopening of the A-9 route gets further delayed due to LTTE actions.

De Silva briefed the diplomats on the outcome of Geneva 2 and reiterated the Government will agree to reopen the Muhamalai entry -exit point if the LTTE ceases its attacks.

Countering LTTE propaganda, he informed the diplomats that the land route upto Kilinochchi, a 110 kilometre stretch, is open for transport of essential items. The route is closed only at the Muhamalai point, following the LTTE's attack on the Muhamalai forward defence lines on August 11.

The Minister said the Government considers Geneva 2 a success, despite no agreement being reached on a date for another round of talks, because the LTTE agreed that a political settlement was the only solution to the North and East issue.

The Minister also appreciated Norway's role at Geneva 2 which facilitated a cordial round of talks between the two teams.