Date:26/06/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/06/26/stories/2006062603971400.htm

International

Rajapakse offers two-week truce to Tigers

B. Muralidhar Reddy

COLOMBO: Amidst growing international concern over the possibility of an all-out war between the Government and the Tamil Tigers, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse is reported to have offered a two-week ceasefire to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

According to the local newspaper, The Sunday Leader, the President's initiative came with the promise that the Government would rein in the rebel Tigers faction led by "Col." Karuna and it was communicated to the LTTE through the Tamil newspaper Sudaroli's editor, N. Vidyatharan, and its publisher, E. Saravanapavan.

No Government official was ready to comment on the veracity of the report. When approached for reaction by The Hindu, a spokesperson for the LTTE said, "There is some truth in it. We have not given our response to the offer. We are examining it." The Lankan Government has of late been unhappy with the role of Norway as a facilitator and Mr. Rajapakse has been a vocal advocate of direct talks with the LTTE. However, observers are wondering if Colombo would undertake such a venture, at a juncture when the Tigers have stepped up violence. Renewed violence in the country has seen more than 815 persons killed since assumption of office by Mr. Rajapakse in November.