Government to relax flow of commercial goods to the North
[06 Apr 2001]

Foreign Minister said the Government would consider permitting the free flow of commercial goods to the north. Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar told the local Daily News, it is not a preamble to the peace talks nor is it an attempt to coax the LTTE to refrain from acts of sabotage in the South. 

He said "This will be a part of the agreement of understanding between the two parties, but will definitely not be a precondition to peace talks". 

The 17-year conflict between the Government and the LTTE rebels in the north and east has led to a restriction in the supply of certain commercial items to the operational areas. But the present Government continued to supply essential food items to civilians living in areas still under the control of the rebels. 

Explaining the present stage of the peace process, Minister Kadirgamar said that the government is looking at a package of humanitarian measures to the Vanni.

Kadirgamar said however, the government would have to be sure the civilians receive the goods once they cross the Vanni. "Because we have had much evidence in the past that the LTTE takes much of these items".

The Foreign Minister was positive that this new process would start soon but he clearly refuted an "economic embargo" in the north. "The LTTE talks about an economic embargo, that is all wrong".

Explaining the Norwegian Government's facilitation between the two parties, Minister Kadirgamar said that issues of logistics and questions of agenda and timing would have to be addressed before any peace talks commence.

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