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The Sri Lankan Government may announce a two-day cease-fire from April 13.
Initially, the government will announce the cease-fire on the occasion of New Year and Good Friday from April 13, during which strict vigilance would be maintained along the coast by the Sri Lankan navy to deter any attempts by the banned Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam to smuggle in arms. Depending on the situation, the cease-fire could be extended for a week, The Daily Mirror, quoting sources said Tuesday.
The report said the peace talks between the government and the LTTE might start in May.
The government has decided to lift the ban on the transport of certain prohibited items to LTTE-controlled areas in Wanni as a 'goodwill gesture' prior to peace talks with the Tigers, the sources added.
Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar has already indicated that the government and the LTTE would enter into an 'agreement of understanding', under which the government would ensure an increase of flow of commercial goods to Wanni.
''The agreement is yet to be reached and it will certainly not be a pre-condition to peace talks,'' Kadirgamar explained in an interview to a state- run newspaper recently. As part of the agreement, the LTTE will desist from acts of sabotage in Colombo.
The sources said the defence ministry has been informed on the items on which the ban would be lifted. These include coconut oil, soap, beverages, brown packing paper, packed chemicals, cigarettes, eggs and some pharmaceutical items. The lifting of the ban could be implemented this week.
Meanwhile, in an interview with the Canadian Tamil Radio, Norwegian peace envoy Erik Solheim has said it would take another three weeks to bring both sides to the negotiating table. ''The LTTE must be thanked for extending the cease-fire for another month,'' he said and added that he was not surprised by the announcement as LTTE chief Prabhakaran had showed his interest in the peace talks during his talks in Wanni in November last.
The LTTE had announced month-long cease-fire on December 24 last year and subsequently extended three times until April 24.
UNI
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