Military launches attack on Jaffna

By Nirupama Subramanian

COLOMBO, DEC. 22. Sri Lanka today said the month-long ceasefire declared by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam could be a ``productive exercise'' but it reserved the right to respond with caution in the interests of national security.

Hours after the declaration of the unilateral truce, that will take effect from midnight on December 24, the military launched a two-pronged attack over land and the Jaffna lagoon to take control of more areas. The operation left at least 76 dead on both sides, according to figures released by the Defence Ministry.

In a statement, the Media Minister, Mr. Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, said: ``The Government is not opposed to any genuine step with the aim of finding a solution to the country's ethnic conflict. Looked at from this perspective, it would appear that the declaration of a ceasefire by the LTTE could be a productive exercise.''

But, being aware of the ``compelling reasons'' behind the LTTE's declaration of a ceasefire, the Government would proceed with caution and ``constant and continued inquiry.'' Such a position should not be viewed as obstructionist, Mr. Yapa said, adding that the Government would issue a detailed response ``soon.'' The statement came as the main Opposition and Tamil parties, as well as the international community, pumped up the pressure on the Government to reciprocate the unilateral truce.

The United National Party asked the Government to consider the truce seriously in the interests of achieving a lasting peace in the country. The party spokesman, Mr. Karunasena Koditawakku, said the Government now had an ``obligation'' to respond positively. But, the LTTE must accept the ``stark fact'' that the ceasefire could not be restricted to the north and the east, but had to apply to the entire country.

Like the Tamil United Liberation Front, the Tamil Eelam Liberation Organisation described the LTTE's declaration as a ``courageous move'' to which the Government had to give a positive response. In a statement from London, the British Deputy Foreign Minister, Mr. Peter Hain, expressed the hope ``that this will be the first step in the process towards creating the right environment for peace negotiations without preconditions.

``I welcome the announcement of a month-long unilateral ceasefire by the LTTE. I encourage the Sri Lankan Government to follow suit and seize the opportunity offered by this initiative,'' he said.

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