SL diplomats, US officials visit north

[TamilNet, Friday, 16 February 2001, 17:35 GMT]
Fourteen diplomats working in Sri Lankan missions abroad visited Jaffna Friday to assess the situation in the northern peninsula. They had discussions with the Government Agent for the district, local officials and the public. Meanwhile, the deputy chief of mission of the US embassy in Colombo was also in Jaffna Friday along with two officials.

The US embassy officials met the GA at the Kachcheri and spoke to him about conditions in Jaffna. Kachcheri sources said that the US officials had inquired about the political situation in the peninsula and that the GA had told them that he was not in a position to discuss it because he is a ‘government servant’.

However, he advised them to speak to the general public in Jaffna to ascertain themselves the real condition, according to the sources.

Meanwhile, Jaffna Kachcheri officials told Tamilnet that the visit of the 14 Sri Lankan diplomats arranged by the Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry in Colombo appeared to be aimed briefing them first hand in the peninsula to deal with issues regarding the ethnic conflict in the island raised by governments of the countries where they are posted now.