Military-LTTE commanders meet at Muhamalai second time

[TamilNet, Saturday, 16 November 2002, 18:40 GMT]
The delegations of the Sri Lanka armed forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam met Saturday at Muhamalai and discussed several issues regarding the question of resettling displaced families in high security zones and removal of fishing restriction in the Jaffna peninsula. The discussion, the second of its kind, commenced around ten in the morning, continued till six in the evening, sources said.

Defence Ministry Secretary Austin Fernando and the commander of the LTTE's northern front, Col. Theepan, shake hands while SLMM Jaffna representative looks on.

It was agreed to hold another discussion regarding the opening of Nagarkovil - Point Pedro road in Vadamarachchi area for the use of civilians on November 21 at the office of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission in Jaffna. Both delegations agreed to appoint a special committee to visit the area and to report before taking a decision in this regard, sources said.

Defence Ministry Secretary Mr. Austin Fernando, Jaffna Sri Lanka Army commander Major General Sarath Fonseka, Deputy Commanding Officer Major General D.Ratnasabapathy, Major General Shantha Kottegoda who is a member of the committee that has been appointed to look into the question of resettling displaced in the high security zones, Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekara, Northern commander of the Sri Lanka Navy, Group Captain Kolitha Gunatilake of the Sri Lanka Air Force and several top military officials attended the discussion.

The commander of the LTTE's northern front, Col. Theepan, Deputy Commander of the Sea Tigers Lt.Colonel Cheliyan, Commanders Arivu, Iniyavan, Jaffna district political head Ilamparithi, and Pulithevan of the Peace Secretariat, represented the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.

SLMM head Major general (retd) Trond Furuhovde with his Jaffna representative participated in the discussion.

Jaffna SLA Commander major General Sarath Fonseka, SLN Northern Commander Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekara with Defence Ministry Secretary Austin Fernando at Muhamalai discussion.