Correction to BBC story
[January 29, 2002 - 6.45 GMT]

Presidential spokesman Harim Peiris has written to BBC’s Colombo correspondent drawing attention to the web story of January 23^rd 2002 captioned “Opposition backs Sri Lanka peace effort” which contains an inaccuracy concerning the President Chandrika Kumaratunga’s stand in the peace initiatives.

The report said the fighting resumed after President Chandrika Kumaratunga broke off Norwegian-sponsored talks with the Tigers and the fighting resumed. The BBC’s Colombo correspondent has since issued a statement acknowledging the error. 

The full text of the letter to the BBC correspondent as follows:

25 January 2002

Ms. Frances Harrison,

BBC Correspondent,
P O Box 25,
Battaramulla.

Dear Ms. Harrison,

Correction to Story captioned, Opposition 'backs Sri Lanka peace effort'

The above report datelined January 23, 2002^*, contains an error concerning the President of Sri Lanka. It says, ‘The fighting resumed after President Chandrika Kumaratunga broke off Norwegian-sponsored talks with the Tigers and the fighting resumed.’

The facts are as follows:

The Norwegian Foreign Minister Thorbjørn Jagland held talks with the President and the Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka on the night of June 7, 2001 in Colombo.

At this meeting the Government of Sri Lanka requested the Government of Norway to pursue the peace process on the basis of the following points.

1. Free-flow of commercial goods to LTTE held areas in the North of Sri Lanka.

2. A mutually agreed halt to offensive military operations.

3. Talks to commence on the basis of LTTE leader Prabhakaran’s speech in November 2000 when he proclaimed their readiness to commence unconditional talks.

The Norwegian response took some time, but when it did come, it was to the effect that the LTTE was not interested in peace at that point of time.

This position was clearly outlined by Sri Lanka’s then Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar in a television interview broadcast last October.

Given the seriousness of the report in the backdrop of the peace process being revived by the Government, please ensure a correction.

Yours sincerely,

Harim Peiris
Presidential Spokesman

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Last Updated Date: January 29, 2002  - 6.45 GMT.