Defence Ministry says embargo eased

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 02 January 2002, 20:40 GMT]
Sri Lanka's Defence Ministry said Wednesday that it would allow the transport of restricted amount of diesel, petrol, cement and steel bars to the areas held by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the North-East province effective January 15.

The ministry said that it would allow other essential food items and medicines to be transported to the LTTE held areas, except illegal arms, ammunitions, explosives, remote control equipments, barbed wire, pen torch batteries and telescopic equipments.

The Defence Ministry said in a press release that the government, which received a mandate from the people at the last general election to find peace, has taken this measure to create a conducive atmosphere for initiating peace talks.

The Defense Ministry further said that logistical arrangements to ensure smooth implementation of this decision are currently being worked out, and will be in place within the next two weeks.