The Hindu : SLMM head, Sea Tigers meet

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jul 17, 2003

International

International

SLMM head, Sea Tigers meet

By V.S. Sambandan

COLOMBO JULY 16. The head of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission, TrygveTeleffsen, today met the head of the Sea Tigers, Soosai, in the rebel-held Mulaittivu district, the base of the naval wing of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). No details were available about the meeting, which comes at a time when the LTTE has demanded demarcation of lines along the island's eastern seas. The SLMM, had earlier suggested a separate area for the Sea Tigers, but the idea met with opposition from the south.

While last year's ceasefire agreement, signed separately by the Sri Lankan Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe and the LTTE leader, V. Prabakaran, demarcates areas on land, the Navy has full control over the seas. The LTTE has lost two ships off eastern Sri Lanka since March. `Col.' Soosai, has expressed anger over the naval incidents.

Westborg to visit Vanni

Meanwhile, the former Norwegian envoy, Jon Westborg, is likely to visit rebel-held Kilinochchi tomorrow. According to media reports, Mr. Westborg may convey the Government's initial thoughts on an interim administration.

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