Resolve to face all challenges with greater strength: President

THERE is no challenge that cannot be overcome by a Nation that has awakened as one and there is no challenge that cannot be defeated by a Nation that has joined ranks to achieve a single aim with total commitment, President Mahinda Rajapakse said yesterday in his address to the Nation as the country remembered the first anniversary of the biggest tragedy in its history.

"There are many challenges that we Sri Lankans as a country and a Nation have to overcome. We should resolve today to face all those challenges with greater strength," President Rajapakse added.

In his address at the State function to remember the first anniversary of the tsunami tragedy that hit the Nation on December 26, from Peraliya, Hikkaduwa where thousands of lives perished in the 'train of death,' President Rajapakse said it was on that basis he launched the Jaya Lanka programme.

Jaya Lanka programme was launched to carry forward with new and greater energy, the task of building homes and properties destroyed by Tsunami," the President added.

He said the Jaya Lanka programme will be carried out under his personal direction and supervision.

"I address you today standing on part of the ground that underwent great tragedy in a devastation caused by nature. I believe that the voices of those friends and relations snatched away from us will continue to linger in the wind that blows towards us from the sea.

I believe there is a question, which I should ask myself and you from yourselves. It is the question whether as a Nation we have been able to do maximum justice by those who sacrificed their lives as victims of that terrible tragedy?

Have we been able to take forward this effort unbroken towards the progress of this country, the immense strength of our people that was manifest together with that great tragedy?", the President asked.

"It is my belief that both you and I are unable to answer these questions to our entire satisfaction," the President added.

President Rajapakse said in the same manner that the country accepted the challenge directed at us by the sea that surrounds the country one year ago, it is necessary that country is ready and prepared to face any challenge, in an even stronger manner and successfully overcome them.

"There is little that can be done by those who continue to only weep in their sorrow or hide through cowardice. Those who face any challenge with self-confidence and preparedness can always be the victors. This is my firm resolve and call upon all of you to make this your own resolve too," President Rajapakse said.

New Violence in Sri Lanka Kills 4

26 December 2005

Sri Lankan officials say at least four people have been killed in clashes since unidentified gunmen killed a Tamil legislator Sunday. Officials say soldiers shot and killed two suspected Tamil Tiger rebels during a search operation in the city of Batticaloa early Monday. And two civilians were killed overnight in the neighboring Trincomalee district.

Meanwhile, preparations are underway for the funeral of Tamil legislator Joseph Pararajasingham, a key figure in the Tamil National Alliance party. He was shot dead while attending Christmas Mass in Batticaloa.

The violence is the latest in a series of deadly attacks since rebel leader Velupillai Prabhakaran threatened to resume his struggle for an independent Tamil homeland if the government fails to reach a peace settlement within the next year.

Mine hits truck carrying Sri Lankan soldiers, 10 dead, four wounded in Jaffna Peninsula

A mine blast killed 10 Sri Lankan soldiers and wounded four others in the island's northern Jaffna Peninsula Tuesday, in escalating violence that the Defense Ministry blames on separatist Tamil Tiger rebels.

``We now have confirmation that 10 have died and four are wounded,'' military spokesman Brig. Prasad Samarasinghe said. The soldiers were traveling in a military truck when the Claymore anti-personnel mine was triggered.

Initial report said that there were 15 people on the truck, but Samarasinghe said ``all 14'' had been accounted for.

He blamed the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam for the attack.

``Who else can do that?'' he said of the rebels, who want to set up a separate homeland for the country's 3.2 million ethnic Tamils in the northeast.

The soldiers were on leave and en route to the airport when the mine exploded.

Violence has escalated in Sri Lanka's north and east since rebel leader Velupillai Prabhakaran threatened to resume his struggle for an independent homeland for the region's majority Tamils. Harry Goonetilleke, a retired air marshall and top defense analyst, said the recent string of attacks blamed on the rebels could lead the country back into civil war.

``They are trying to provoke the military and draw them into open hostility,'' said Goonetilleke, who is also former head of the Sri Lanka air force.

The Norwegian-backed peace talks that started after the 2002 cease-fire were halted in 2004 after the rebels demands for wide-ranging autonomy. Efforts to resume the talks have failed to bring about a resolution, with the two sides unable to agree even on a venue.

Sri Lankan shares plunged a provisional 7.5 percent Tuesday after the attack, in one of the biggest drops this year. The benchmark All Share Index fell 153.16 points to close at 1880.15 points, Dow Jones Newswire said.

The attack follows Monday's killing by Sri Lankan soldiers of two suspected rebels in eastern Sri Lanka, where a pro-rebel parliamentarian was assassinated on Sunday.

With Tuesday's fatalities, a total of 43 Sri Lankan security forces personnel have died this month in violence blamed on the rebels.

gunmen shot and killed Tamil legislator Joseph Pararajasingham during midnight Christmas mass at a church, the Defense Ministry said Sunday (Picture Joseph with his wife) 

Merry Christmas - Skynet BIT 

Co-Chairs’ Envoys meets Thamilchelvan; LTTE firm on venue for talks

Co-Chairs statement on Monday urging government and the LTTE to start talks on Ceasefire Agreement's Implementation immediately, the Co-Chairs are committed and impartial in their effort to end violence and finding a lasting solution to the ethnic crisis, said Head of the EU Delegation in Sri Lanka, Ambassador Julian Wilson, speaking to the media in Kilinochchi.

The envoys of the Co-chairs engaged in the peace process between the LTTE and government met the rebel leaders in Kilinochchi today. The envoys decided meet the LTTE political leadership after 13 sailors were killed yesterday in Mannar by suspected LTTE cadres, endangering the already stalled peace process and the CFA.

Speaking to media after a two hour-long meeting with the delegation the LTTE's political wing leader Thamilchelvan said "The Tamil leadership is firm and will oppose Colombo's effort on imposing geographical limitations and preconditions on the venue of talks on the implementation of the Ceasefire Agreement and thereby alienating the Liberation Tigers from European countries".

Thamilchelvan also charged that rape by the Navy personnel in Punguduthivu and the attempted cover up of the incident by dumping her body in an abandoned well have raised the specter similar crimes against women in the past, including Sarathambal, Krishanthi and many more young Tamil women who were raped and murdered, and the Chemmani graves where many mass graves of disappeared Tamil youths were found.

President shuns Solheim again

President Mahinda Rajapakse has turned down a request by Norway's Special Envoy and Minister for International Development, Erik Solheim, for a meeting during his three-day visit to New Delhi beginning Tuesday.

The purpose was to discuss matters relating to the resumption of the peace talks and discussions with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on the working of the Ceasefire Agreement.

The move stems from Government's keenness to have Norway play the role of peace facilitator under a set of new guidelines. In terms of this, President Rajapakse's Government wants a greater interaction between the foreign ministries of Colombo and Oslo.

Matters relating to this had been explained to Norway's new Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Store during talks Mr. Samaraweera held on the sidelines of the WTO meeting in Hong Kong last week. Though Mr. Gahr declared Norway's plans to name another Special Envoy and a team of facilitators, he had made clear Mr. Solheim would continue to play a pivotal role in the peace process. In fact, Mr. Solheim had arrived in Hong Kong to be on hand during talks between Ministers Samaraweera and Gahr.

President Rajapakse's decision not to meet up with Mr. Solheim during his three-day visit will mean there will be a delay in the latter's visit to Colombo. Consequently, the resumption of any Norwegian peace initiatives will also be delayed. Against this backdrop, despite inviting the Government of Norway to resume the role of peace facilitator, the Government on Friday used for the first time the good offices of the Donor Co-Chairs including Norway to communicate with the LTTE. This is the first time such a step has been taken during the near-four-year ceasefire. The Co-Chair envoys met LTTE Political Wing leader S.P. Thamilselvan.

An official Government statement on Friday accused the LTTE of showing scant regard for the provisions of the Ceasefire Agreement. Their continued attacks, the statement added, raises serious doubts about the LTTE's commitment to a political solution.

The envoys flew by a Sri Lanka Air Force aircraft to Vavuniya. They crossed the Omanthai checkpoint in vehicles provided by the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) and travelled along the A-9 highway to Kilinochchi.

It came after Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake and Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera held a meeting with envoys of the Donor Co-chairs at Temple Trees on Friday. Present at the meeting were envoys from the European Union, the United Kingdom, Japan and Norway. The United States is also a Co-Chair but the embassy did not send a representative with this delegation.

Mr. Wickremanayake appealed to them to ascertain from the LTTE whether it was still committed to the Ceasefire Agreement of February 2002. If they were in fact bound by it, Mr. Wickremanayake said the Government of Sri Lanka wished to have from the LTTE a date for the resumption of the peace talks.

The clarification on the CFA and a date to resume peace talks if they are committed had been sought in the wake of rising violence for which the Government has categorically accused the LTTE. The immediate cause for the meeting of envoys of Donor Co-chairs was Friday's incident in Mannar where 13 soldiers were killed in a claymore mine and Rocket Propelled Grenade attack.

Besides Premier Wickremanayake meeting the envoys of the Donor Co-chairs, President Mahinda Rajapakse also chaired a meeting of the National Security Council on Frdiay where several important decisions were made. Special envoy for peace process. President Mahinda Rajapakse is to appoint a special envoy for the peace process.

A Presidential source told The Sunday Times yesterday that such a special envoy would spearhead the peace process and remain a main link between the President and others on the Government side. A suitable candidate will be appointed shortly, the source said.

Pro-Tamil Tiger rebel Parliament member fatally shot in eastern Sri Lanka amid escalating violence

Unidentified gunmen shot and killed Tamil legislator Joseph Pararajasingham during midnight Christmas mass at a church, the Defense Ministry said Sunday - as escalating violence threatened to shatter the country's cease-fire.

The attackers fired at Pararajasingham, 71, while he was at the St. Michael's church after midnight in Batticaloa, eastern Sri Lanka's main town, military spokesman Brig. Prasad Samarasinghe said.

His wife, Sugunam Pararajasingha , and eight others with him, escaped with injuries. Pararajasingham's bodyguards had opened fire, but it was not known if any of the assailants were wounded.

Pararajasingham represented the Tamil National Alliance, a proxy party of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, which wants to create a Tamil homeland for Sri Lanka's 3.2 million ethnic Tamil minority. A breakaway faction of the rebels is opposed to the alliance.

On Saturday, envoys from Asia and Europe met with the Tamil Tiger rebels' top political leader, expressing concern that growing violence was threatening to shatter the country's cease-fire, officials and the rebels said.

But violence continued, with one soldier and five rebels dead in a battle in the rebel's heartland, the Jaffna Peninsula on Saturday, the military said.

``The terrorists attacked our troops and we had to open fire in self defense,'' said Defense Ministry spokesman Samarasinghe.

``We have found weapons and evidence that the deceased were terrorists,'' he said.

The day before on Friday, 13 members of Sri Lanka's navy traveling in a bus were killed in an ambush.

In response to the violence, envoys from Japan, Britain, Norway and European Union, representing key backers of Sri Lanka's peace process, met with S. P. Thamilselvan Saturday in the northern guerrilla stronghold of Kilinochchi.

``The delegation briefed Mr. Thamilselvan on the ... concern over the escalating violence and the necessity to start talks on effective implementation of the cease-fire agreement since it is felt that the (truce) is running into grave risk,'' the rebels said on their Web site.

Thamilselvan assured the envoys of the rebels' ``commitment to the peace process and the cease-fire,'' said the statement.

Violence has escalated in Sri Lanka's ethnic Tamil-majority northeast since rebel leader Velupillai Prabhakaran threatened to resume his struggle for an independent Tamil homeland if the government fails to address Tamils' grievances.

This month alone, at least 34 government security personnel were killed and many more injured in attacks blamed on the rebels.

Dr. Ilias from Greece treating a Tsunami affected people 

Another Army soldier killed in an ambush

An Army soldier was killed and six others including two officers were injured when unknown gunmen ambushed an Army vehicle along Kachchai-Kilali road in Thenmaradchy late afternoon, today. Military spokesman Brig. Nalin Witharanage said the soldiers were on patrol in the northern town of Jaffna late afternoon today when they were ambushed from inside a Hindu temple.One soldier who was wounded in the attack died while been taken to a hospital, he added. The injured were immediately taken to the nearby Thambuthottam Army camp and airlifted by SLAF helicopter to the Palaly military hospital, sources said.

Since Dec. 4, a total of 19 soldiers have died in attacks by suspected rebels, putting the 2002 Norway-brokered cease-fire agreement between the government and the rebels under heavy strain.

Solheim calls for urgent talks

With the international community's rising concern over the escalation of violence in the Jaffna peninsula Norwegian special envoy Erick Solheim urged the Government and the LTTE to urgently commence talks to de-escalate the present hostile situation. Solheim said this when he met the LTTE's Chief Negotiator and theoretician, Anton Balasingham at his London residence on Tuesday.

Explaining in detail about the deliberations of the crucial meeting of Co-Chairs of the donor community (US, EU, Japan and Norway) in Brussels Monday, Solheim said the international community favoured immediate talks between the parties in conflict in the implementation of the truce, without prolonging dispute over the venue.

Mr. Solheim denounced claims in the local media that Norway had insisted Oslo as the venue for peace talks. He added that as facilitators Norway is ready to accept any venue collectively agreed upon by the government and the LTTE and reiterated that the venue was not an issue for his government.
The world community, Mr. Solheim pointed out, is alarmed at the sudden escalation in violence in Jaffna, which has the potential to break into a conflict if it is not arrested in time.

20,000 houses for tsunami homeless

Caritas Sri Lanka-SEDEC will complete the construction of 20,000 new houses to be given to those who lost their houses a year ago due to tsunami.

Executive Director Caritas Sri Lanka-SEDEC, Rev. Fr. Damian Fernando told a media conference at the BMICH that SEDEC the Social Arm of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Sri Lanka has undertaken the responsibility of building 20,000 new houses in the country to be given to those who lost their houses, but could complete only 700 houses so far due to reasons beyond their control.

The media conference was held to announce the program organised by the Caritas Sri Lanka-SEDEC to mark the First Year of Tsunami Disaster of December 26, 2004. He told the media that Sri Lanka has received Rs.16 billion to provide shelter, to look after the health and supply food for the needy. These monies come from the Caritas Internationalis,COR UNUM and other Church based charity organisations and other international agencies.

According to statistics available over 90,000 families have been directly affected by the disaster and around 79,000 houses either destroyed completely or partly damaged.

Fr. Damian said the delay in completion of the building of houses was mainly due to the unavailability of suitable land to construct houses in the respective districts and said that issue had now been resolved with the government providing land necessary.

The SEDEC Director said that they were honoured and awarded by the former President for building 6,530 transitionary houses for the tsunami affected families on record time as an immediate measure and they have provided assistance to 17,000 school children in the disaster-hit areas to continue with their schooling.

His Lordship Rt. Rev. Dr. Kingsly Swamipillai, the Bishop of Batticoloa-Trincomalee said that his people were living disaster-prone areas close to the sea and pointed out the need to construct houses that could withstand any disaster. He commended the decision of the government to relax the 200 meter buffer zone which was partly responsible in delaying the construction of houses. "The fishermen wish to live close to the seas and that is a justifiable demand as they are fishermen and they cannot go away from the sea despite danger to their lives", the Bishop said.

Rt. Rev. Dr. Harold Antony Perera, the Bishop of Galle said the tsunami was a disaster the country experienced, it was an occasion for all to come together to help those who were affected by the calamity. "It was a moment of truth. It was an occasion we shared our common brotherhood putting aside all man made differences. We are accused of trying to convert by helping those affected.

Despite this unfounded allegation levelled against the Catholics of this country, we helped the Buddhists, they were the majority affected by the disaster as we share the common brotherhood san all ethnic or religious differences. What we do is show our love, charity and affection to all affected ".

Nation to observe two minutes silence at 9.30 am on Dec.26

A special commemorative programme in remembrance of those who lost their lives in the tsunami catastrophe will be held in Peraliya on the 26th of December attended by President Mahinda Rajapakse which will also coincide with the launch of the "Jayalanka" programme to accelerate the rehabilitation of the displaced victims.

This day will also be marked by religious observances islandwide conducted by Buddhist, Hindu, Christian and Islamic faiths.

The Ministry of Public Adminstration has already issued circulars to all State Departments with regard to the programme,a Government Media release stated. A special feature on this day will be a two minute silence to be observed islandwide at 9.30 a.m.

During this period all citizens are requested to stop whatever activity they are engaged in and remember those who lost their lives in the catastrophe and commit their dedication towards rebuilding the nation. The Government requests all citizens to join hands for this national duty.

Situation Report

Grenade attack in Valaichenai

Monday, 12 December 2005

A civilian was wounded when two unidentified men on a motorbike lobbed a grenade at Army personnel of road patrol at Pethalai in Valaichenai around this afternoon the police said. S. Uthayakumar, 38, who was at a bus stop waiting for a bus, was wounded and admitted to Valaichenai Hospital.

Two more Claymore attacks in North-East

Monday, 12 December 2005

Police sources said a claymore mine was detonated this morning around 7:00 a.m. near an Army post on Vavuniya - Mannar road at Varikuddiyoor.

No causalities are reported in the explosion. Police said that additional Army and Special Task Force (STF) and policemen personnel were deployed and the security was tightened in and around Vavuniya.

Meanwhile two Army soldiers were seriously injured when claymore mine was detonated at an Army foot patrol of twelve soldiers in Vantharumoolai.

The attack took place this morning around 7:30 a.m. near the Eastern University building on the Batticaloa - Valaichenai main road, police said.

Wounded personnel are identified as S. Kalaratna, 23, and Corporal T.M.G Appuhamy, 40, were rushed to Polannaruwa Hospital.

Suspected Tamil Tiger rebels attack army patrol, wound two soldiers

Suspected Tamil Tiger rebels detonated a land mine and opened fire on an army foot patrol Monday in eastern Sri Lanka, wounding at least two soldiers, the Defense Ministry said.

The attack on the 12-member army contingent occurred in the town of Vantharumoolai, 17 kilometers (11 miles) northwest of Batticaloa, eastern Sri Lanka's main town. One of the wounded soldiers was in serious condition, the Defense Ministry's Media Unit said.

The soldiers returned fire but there were no reports of rebel casualties. Tamil Tiger representatives couldn't immediately be reached for comment.

Meanwhile, the military said Monday that about 10 rebels stormed a state-run hospital in northern Sri Lanka, killing a police guard and rescuing a comrade who was taken there after swallowing cyanide upon being arrested.

The rebels entered the hospital Sunday in the government-held town of Vavuniya, shooting an armed policeman and ordering four unarmed officers to leave, the Media Unit said.

They then took away the woman, who apparently survived after swallowing cyanide when she was arrested on suspicion of being a member of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. Vavuniya town borders territory held by the rebels.

Tokyo's offer reflects Colombo's stand

Sri Lanka willing to hold talks outside the country

COLOMBO: Japan on Sunday offered to host direct talks between Colombo and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to "review the operation" of the ceasefire agreement (CFA).

The offer by Tokyo's visiting special representative Yasushi Akashi follows a change in Colombo's position that the talks should be held inside Sri Lanka.

"The Government told me that it is willing to have negotiations outside the country, preferably in Asia," Mr. Akashi told a press conference. "Japan is ready to host such direct negotiations, provided the two parties are agreeable to it and also with the facilitators and the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) participating as appropriate." "What is envisaged is review of the operational aspects, not the review of the agreement as such."

Colombo's call for a review ran into a deadlock as the LTTE insisted that the talks be held either in rebel-held territory or abroad. The LTTE rejected Norway's proposal to hold the talks at the international airport near Colombo.

Mr. Akashi, who announced Colombo's flexibility after meeting President Mahinda Rajapakse last week, said the new Government was giving "the highest priority" to the peace process and that was formulating a "comprehensive approach" to end the conflict, not merely an aggregation of the transitional approaches.

In a departure from his routine as Tokyo's special representative, Mr. Akashi did not meet the LTTE during his visit. "I have decided to comply with the wishes of the Government which is engaged in a very comprehensive review of the situation of peace."

Asked about media reports that India could join Norway, Japan, the E.U. and the U.S. as a co-chair for the efforts to back the peace process, Mr. Akashi said: "I don't think that question arises," as the current co-chairs had hosted the aid support conference in 2003.

Fanoos spares Jaffna

The Meteorology Department said yesterday that the cyclone 'Fanoos' was centred about 70km Northeast of Jaffna at 9.00 a.m. and was unlikely to hit the North - East coastal belt.

Speaking to Sunday Observer, Deputy Director of Met Department S.H.Kariyawasam said "based on previous motions of the cyclone we could say that it would not hit the coastal belt. But Northern part of the island would experience strong winds and heavy intermittent showers".

However, he said, timely warnings had been given to people living in coastal areas and fishers were told not to go fishing and engage in any naval activities.

The sea areas off the coast extending from Mannar to Mullaitivu through Jaffna will experience very rough conditions according to the Met Department. The coastal belt extending from Jaffna to Kalpitiya may be inundated by sea waves generated by strong winds, it said.

Meanwhile, Additional District Secretary, Mannar Nicholas Pillai confirmed that there were no reports of cyclone experience or damages caused by strong winds so far. There has been a continuous drizzle in Mannar, he said.

An NGO official based in Jaffna said that there was heavy rain in the peninsula on Friday night but no sign of a serious threat. He also said that people, especially the fishers, had been alerted of the possible danger.

Tamilnet website reported that strong 50-60 kmph wind has caused damages to roofs and houses in the low lying areas had been flooded. Some families in Vadamarachchi North and East have sought shelter at schools and community centres.

Rebels warn Sri Lanka last chance to avert war

KILINOCHCHI, Sri Lanka - Sri Lanka’s government faces its final opportunity to avert a return to a civil war, the Tamil Tigers have warned, vowing to use all available resources to fight unless given a homeland.

The Tigers, who used suicide bombers to devastating effect in their drive for autonomy and have threatened to resume their struggle next year unless given political powers in the north and east, said their deadline depends on new President Mahinda Rajapakse’s response.

“We don’t prefer war. If a war is thrusted on the Tamil people, the Tamil people and the LTTE (will) make use of all the resources available to fight back,” S.P. Thamilselvan, head of the Tigers’ political wing, told Reuters in the northern rebel stronghold of Kilinochchi in an interview late on Friday.

“We consider this is an important final opportunity,” he added, saying the Tigers would give Colombo a “short space” to come up with a peace blueprint that accepts their demands for a homeland for ethnic Tamils and self-determination.

“Whether the short space is going to be first half, mid or the latter half (of 2006) is in the hands of Colombo.”

Rajapakse, allied to hardline Marxists and Buddhists who detest the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), has already ruled out a separate homeland for Tamils outright.

A surge in attacks against the military, which culminated in two claymore mine blasts this month that killed 14 soldiers in the northern Jaffna peninsula, have raised fears of a return to a war that killed over 64,000 people up until a 2002 truce.

The Tigers, accused of assassinating the island’s foreign minister in August, deny any hand in attacks on military patrols and sentries -- which analysts say is a stock denial -- and the ceasefire is at its lowest ebb.

Some tsunami aid workers are considering pulling out of coastal rebel territory and Colombo’s stock exchange has plunged amid fears a return to war will torpedo any hope of an influx of much-needed foreign investment into the $20 billion economy.

Fighting words

“Any living being if challenged or if tortured or if threatened of its existence will fight back, that is nature’s law, and we human beings are no exception and we Tamils are no exception,” Thamilselvan, 38, said in his native Tamil through a translator.

The armed forces’ claim on Friday that they could defeat the Tigers if war resumes was a provocative mistake, he added.

“We take it as an egotistic and supremacist thinking mode in which the Sri Lankan forces behave,” he said. “It is a ridiculous thing for the military to say things like that and most irresponsible... What type of a victory would that be?”

“Even after facing defeat in several instances at the hands of the LTTE, the military has not learnt proper lessons.”

Any resumption of hostilities would be a major setback for plans to restore crumbling infrastructure like roads, hit by years of under-investment as war swallowed state resources.

The road from Jaffna to Kilinochchi is still lined with the charred remains of homes shelled to oblivion before the truce, segments of wall still standing pockmarked where strafed with bullets.

Analysts say the Tigers have used the ceasefire to regroup and rearm, and say the fact they scuppered the chances of Rajapakse’s moderate rival during last month’s presidential election with a boycott that scared hundreds of thousands of Tamils from voting, shows they are not ready for lasting peace.

The rebels, who have also sustained losses blamed on feuding with a renegade faction they accuse the military of supporting, have called on the international community to ensure Rajapakse and the military implement the terms of the ceasefire.

“The ceasefire agreement is the bedrock of the entire peace process and is at grave risk,” Thamilselvan said.

“In the event of all else failing, after exhaustion of all avenues of considering viable alternatives, then the Tamil people will have to exercise their right to self determination.”

Tigers demand urgent talks to defuse Sri Lanka war fears

Tamil Tiger rebels have asked Norway to arrange urgent peace talks with Colombo to prevent Sri Lanka from sliding back into war after 31 people died in a week of violence.

A report on the website of the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) says they have told Norway's top envoy here, Hans Brattskar, immediate negotiations should begin to maintain a tenuous truce in place since February 2002.

"Our commitment to the ceasefire and the peace process remains undiluted and what we request now is to urgently arrange a high-level meeting between the parties...," said the LTTE's political wing leader S. P. Thamilselvan.

In a report on their official website, the LTTE said only face-to-face negotiations could "bring about normalcy and avoid confrontational postures between the civilians and the occupying military."

There was no immediate comment from the government or the Norwegians.

The LTTE leader flatly rejected a call by new President Mahinda Rajapakse to revise the ceasefire and dismissed Rajapakse's election pledge to abandon plans to turn the country into a federal state in exchange for ethnic peace.

The government of Rajapakse -- who had earlier promised to overhaul the peace bid and review the role of the Norwegians -- on Wednesday did a U-turn and asked Oslo to stay on.

"It is true that Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse went to town with rigid stances relating to the 'unitary state' and the necessity to review the ceasefire," said Thamilselvan.

"But the ground realities and hard facts dictate there is no need to review the ceasefire for it is comprehensive and all-encompassing and what is needed is implementation of what has been agreed upon between the parties," he said.

He said the "rigid stance" of sticking to a unitary state may have been an election campaign ploy, but it was not helpful to resolving the decades-old ethnic conflict between the majority Sinhalese and minority Tamil communities.

Rajapakse was elected president last month.

The Tigers agreed in December 2002 to settle for a federal state rather than full independence, but direct talks between the guerrillas and Colombo have been stalemated since April 2003.

Diplomatic efforts to revive the process also remain deadlocked.

Following a surge in violence in the embattled northern and eastern regions that began last week, the military declared Friday it was ready to meet "any terrorist challenge."

The chief of defence staff, Daya Sandagiri, however, said it did not expect the country to slip back into full-scale war.

Rajapakse asked Norwegian envoy Brattskar to keep up peace brokering efforts even though two key allies of his government had insisted Norway be expelled from the peace process, accusing it of favouring the rebels.

Norway has said the two parties must agree to certain unspecified conditions before it resumes the role of peace facilitator in a country where more than 60,000 people have died in ethnic violence since 1972.

CFA, Muslim Tamil amity, key to peace - Thamilchelvan

Pointing out that the recent escalation of violence is due to military aggression and sabotage activities of Sri Lanka Army (SLA) supported paramilitaries, LTTE's Political Head Mr. S.P.Thamilchelvan stressed the urgent need for effective implementation of the Cease Fire Agreement (CFA) and the critical need to maintain Muslim, Tamil amity to maintain peace, when he addressed the media following a meeting with the Norwegian Ambassador Hans Brattskar Friday morning. The meeting that began at 9:30 a.m. lasted for one and a half hours at the LTTE's Peace Secretariat in Kilinochchi.

Mr. P. Nadesan, Head of Tamileelam Police and the Head of LTTE's Peace Secretariat Mr. Pulithevan also participated in the meeting with Norwegian Ambassador Mr. Hans Brattskar. Second secretary of the Norwegian embassy, Tom knappskog accompanied Mr Brattskar to the meeting.

Referring to Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse's invitation to Norway to continue with its facilitatory role to the peace process in Sri Lanka, Thamilchelvan told reporters that the change of Government in Colombo is a southern affair, and that the Norwegian facilitation and the monitoring are continuing uninterrupted in LTTE controlled areas. "Our leadership has always been positive to and supportive of the Norwegian facilitatition," LTTE's political head told the reporters.

Norwegian Ambasador Mr. Hans Brattskar [right] with Tom Knappskog, second secretary of the Norwegian Embassy.

Referring to the situation in the East, LTTE's political head said LTTE was fully aware of the forces attempting to cause dissension between the Muslims and Tamils in the east. LTTE leader Mr. V. Pirapaharan has issued clear directives to district level political and military wings of the LTTE to be vigilant and to take all efforts to strengthen relationship between the two communities, Thamilchelvan told the reporters.

Thamilchelvan said the LTTE was aware of the anonymous handbills issued by nefarious forces to threaten and create fear among resettled Muslims in Jaffna. Thamilchelvan stressing the critical importance of Muslim Tamil relationship appealed to the Muslims to ignore the anonymous threats and said Tamils and Muslims should act with restraint and not fall prey to the forces attempting to create disharmony.

The Norwegian Ambassador briefed LTTE's Politicall Head on his meetings with SL President Mahinda Rajapaksa, his visit to New Delhi with former peace envoy and Norway's Minister for Development, Mr. Erik Solheim, the concerns related to the tense situation prevailing in the Jaffna peninsula and the urgent necessity for the parties to meet and find ways of effectively implementing the Cease Fire Agreement, LTTE's Peace Secretariat said.

For a question on the LTTE's stand to Mahinda Rajapakses framework of Unitary state, Thamilchelvan replied that a clear answer was provided in LTTE leader's Heroes day speech. The movement is prepared wait some time to see Mr Rajapalse'sa appraoch to peace to ascertain if the stand was a pre-election necessity, and if the new President has grasped the fundamentals of the struggle, Thamilchelvan said.

A High level delegation of the Norwegian Government would meet LTTE leadership to discuss the process forward, Mr. Thamilchelvan added and said the meeting did not focus on the process forward. It was a meeting where the official stand of the new Sri Lankan Government with regards to Norwegian facilitation was expressed, he added.