LTTE, SLA commanders meet in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 28 May 2003, 18:34 GMT]
Commanders of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the Trincomalee district met for the first time Wednesday evening at the no man zone near Kattaiparichchan bridge which separates the LTTE held Muttur east and SLA held area in Muttur division in the presence of the Trincomalee head of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM), security sources said.

The meeting was arranged by the SLMM for the two parties to meet face to face and resolve issues confronting them in the implementation of the ceasefire agreement, sources said.


The temporary camp put up at no-man zone at Kattaiparichchan where LTTE and SLA commanders met Wednesday. While discussion was going on SLA personnel, LTTE cadres and Tamileelam police personnel were seen without arms outside the camp


On behalf of the Sri Lanka Army Trincomalee 21 division Brigade Brigadier Senevira and 221 Brigade Brigadier Zahir participated at the discussions. On behalf of the LTTE its Trincomalee district commander Colonel Pathuman, Trincomalee district political head Thilak, Trincomalee district military commander Uthayan and head of the Ilango brigade Vimal participated.

SLMM Trincomalee head Mr.Jan Ledang presided over the discussions.




(L-R) LTTE Ilango brigade head Vimal ( partly hidden), LTTE Trincomalee military commander Uthayan, LTTE district political head Thilak, LTTE Trincomalee district commander Colonel pathuman, SLMM Trincomalee head Mr.jan Ledang9middle) SLA Trincomalee 21 division Brigadier Senevira, 221 division Brigadier Zahir


After about an one hour discussion held between the parties in a temporary camp which was put up specially for this event, Trincomalee SLMM head Mr.Jan Ledang told media persons that the discussion was very constructive and held in a cordial atmosphere. Both parties agreed to work out solutions through direct discussion.

Muttur situation also came up for discussion, he said. Both sides exchanged their telephone numbers for future contacts when necessity arose, he said.




LTTE Trincomalee district commander Colonel Pathuman , district political head Thilak, Trincomalee military commander Uthayan and head of the Ilango brigade Vimal are coming from LTTE controlled area escorted by LTTE cadres to no man zone to attend discussion with SLA commanders


LTTE Trincomalee district commander Colonel Pathuman told press persons that more discussion would follow. No decision on any problems has been taken at Wednesday's discussion and no date has been fixed for future meetings. Wednesday's meeting was held to formulate modalities to meet in future to resolve problems confronting us, he said.

At a discussion between the SLMM Norwegian head retired major General Triggve Teleffsen and LTTE district commander Colonel Pathuman held on April 8 it was agreed to initiate such discussions between the LTTE area commanders led by Colonel Pathuman and SLA commanders at no man zone at Kattaiparichchan to resolve problems between the two parties including transportation of food and medicine by LTTE cadres to their areas through SLA controlled areas. However the meeting fixed for April 21 was not held as scheduled due to violence in Muttur, sources said.


SLA Trincomalee 21 division Brigadier Senevira and 221 division Brigadier Zahir coming from SLA controlled area to no man zone to attend discussion with the LTTE commanders.