De-escalation, normalisation district committee meets in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Thursday, 21 November 2002, 19:27 GMT]
The first meeting of the Trincomalee District Sub Committee on De-escalation and Normalisation (TDCSDN) was held Thursday at the office of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) in the eastern port town. The three hour discussion, observed by the head of the SLMM in Trincomalee, Mr. Jan Ledang, centred on high security zones, resettlement of displaced people and opening of roads now closed for security reasons, sources said.

LTTE delegation comprising Mr.Tilak, Mr.Rajesh, Mr.Sivakumar and Mr.Neethan arrive at the office of the Trinco SLMM to attend the first Trinco District Committee meeting on De-escalation and Normalisation sub-committee.

"No progress has been made in talks as expected. However, we are confident that we could achieve our aim by continuing our dialogue," Mr. S.Tilak, leader of the delegation of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam told local journalists at the conclusion of the discussion.

However, both parties said the discussion was held in a cordial and a friendly atmosphere.

"We could solve problems identified at the first meeting gradually," said Major General Shantha Kottegoda.

Mr.S.Tilak told the journalists: "We took up the question of resettling displaced people in their villages in Thennamaravadi, Kokulai, Kokuthoduvai and Karunattukerni. Although the Kokulai, Kokuthoduvai and Karunattukerni villages come under the Mullaitivu district, the security of these villages is in the hands of Sri Lanka Army stationed in Trincomalee.

LTTE delegation led by Mr.Tilak and government delegation led by by Major General Shantha Kottegoda commence discussion at the first meeting of the Trinco district committee held Thursday.

"Thennamaravadi is a border village in the Trincomalee district. We wanted the SLA to remove their camps from these villages enabling the displaced to resettle. The SLA authorities replied that displaced could be resettled six hundred meters away from SLA camps. The SLA agreed to take up the question of removing these camps at the next district committee meeting. Furthermore it was agreed that a team comprising representatives of LTTE, SLMM and government will visit the villages earmarked for resettlement in advance."

Mr.Tilak said that the SLA has agreed to the LTTE's request to move army from the vicinity of the holy well 'Papanasa sunai,' which is located inside the Fort Frederick, to elsewhere before the next district committee meeting.

The historic Koneswaram Temple is also located inside the Fort Frederick and the holy well 'Papanasa sunai' is used by the temple for the water-cutting ceremony (theertham).

The delegations of the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) and LTTE commenced their discussion Thursday around 10 a.m. It came to a conclusion around 2 p.m.

Mr.Tilak signs the minutes of the discussion while Major General Shantha Kottegoda looks on. The Head of the SLMM in Trincomalee Mr.Jan Ledang and Monitor Mr.Abdel Burkan are seen behind them.

The LTTE team, led by Mr.Tilak, comprised Mr. Rajesh, political head, Trincomalee town, Mr. Sivakumar, political head, Kumburupiddy and an LTTE activist, Mr Neethan.

Major General Shantha Kottegoda led the government delegation. The delegation comprised Rear Admiral SP Weerasekara, northern commander of the Sri Lanka Navy, Rear Admiral HS Ratnakeerthi and several other security officials.

The Trincomalee Government Agent Mr.N.P.K. Nelumdeniya, Senior Superintendent of Police Mr. Upali Hewage and Divisional Secretaries of Eachilampathu, Trincomalee town and Kuchchaveli also participated in the discussion as members of the government delegation.