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Sri Lanka on Friday approved a landmark agreement for an indefinite truce with the LTTE that is expected to bring them closer to kick-starting peace negotiations soon to end the island nation's ethnic conflict.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe handed over his government's letter of confirmation of the agreement to Norwegian ambassador Jon Westborg before the national and international media at Vavuniya in northern Sri Lanka.
Wickremesinghe declined to disclose who had signed the 'memorandum of understanding' on behalf of the LTTE. This is the first indefinite truce agreement between the two adversaries since the 1994 accord between President Chandrika Kumaratunga and the LTTE, which collapsed after talks failed in April 1995.
Westborg confirmed that he had obtained the signed document from the LTTE at Kilinochchi, a northern town in rebel-controlled territory, on Thursday at a meeting with S P Thamiselvan, leader of the rebel group's political wing.
The only detail that Wickremesinghe was willing to share with the media was that even after the entry into force of the formal truce, the armed forces, especially the navy, would retain the right to stop illegal movement of arms.
He said once the formal cease-fire came into effect, the stage would be set for the beginning of 'talks about talks' in the next eight weeks, subject to more issues being sorted out by then.
It is understood that the MoU contains a three-stage agenda of confidence-building measures that should be in place by the 30th, 60th and 90th days from the day on which the formal truce comes into effect.
The truce accord replaces unilateral cease-fires being currently observed by the two sides since December 24. It provides a set of rules for the cease-fire and lays down procedures for dealing with possible violations and a monitoring mechanism to oversee it.
Wickremesinghe said he had briefed Kumaratunga and other cabinet ministers about his intention to hand over a signed confirmation to the Norwegians.
Prior to handing over the letter to Westborg, the prime minister flew in by an air force helicopter, accompanied by Defence Minister Tilak Marapane and the chiefs of all services to Vavuniya.
In a gesture that showed his confidence in the progress of his peace initiative, Wickremesinghe drove up to Omanthai, 10 km north of Vavuniya, the point at which army control ends and neutral territory begins.
Wickremesinghe said he had come to have a look at the newly-established crossover points leading to LTTE-held land on the crucial Kandy-Jaffna highway that was opened to traffic after five years of war last week.
It was the first time in seven years that a Sri Lankan prime minister had come so close to the war-ravaged Vanni region where the LTTE has its main bases.
Wickremesinghe said the cease-fire would operate on land, air and sea, subject to the right of the armed forces to interdict illegal movement of arms.
As the possibility of the LTTE using the truce to smuggle in arms shipments has raised security concerns in the country, the issue of the navy's right to interdict suspicious vessels appears to be a major hurdle in the finalisation of the agreement.
India has welcomed the path-breaking agreement and assured Colombo of its consistent support to the peace process and in 'cooperating fully' in the island nation's economic development and progress.
External affairs ministry spokesperson Nirupama Rao told reporters that India reiterates its commitment to the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka and once again assures the people and government of Sri Lanka of New Delhi's consistent support to the peace process and to 'cooperating fully' towards Sri Lanka's economic development and progress.
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