Acting Head misquoted says SLMM

[July 31, 2003 - 8.30 GMT] 

The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission yesterday categorically denounced media reports quoting its Acting Head Hagrup Haukland as having suggested the Sri Lanka Army may have to use force to remove the LTTE camp in Wan Ella area, in Trincomalee.

The situation arose when the LTTE refused to remove their Wan Ella camp situated in a government-controlled area, ignoring a SLMM ruling. The SLMM spokesperson Agnes Bragadottir told PRIU the maps provided by the LTTE concede the camp is in an area not under their control.

A statement issued by the SLMM states, “The SLMM wants to emphasize that the SLMM has not even made the slightest suggestion of using force. Such a suggestion would be completely contradictory to the role of the SLMM in this country. The SLMM constantly advises and urges the two Parties not to use force, but to solve their disputes via negotiations and dialogue”.

It further says the GOSL too never mentioned using force. The GOSL has always held the view the SLMM or the Facilitator should adopt appropriate means to settle disputes, based upon the Ceasefire Agreement signed by the GOSL and the LTTE last year.

In another development Sri Lanka’s Court of Appeal yesterday served notice on LTTE leader Velupillai Pirapaharan and the Prime Minister and his cabinet, the Attorney General, in cases filed separately by three political parties the Sinhala Jathika Sangamaya, the JVP and the Sihala Urumaya.

The three petitioners have cited 26 respondents in their application challenging the Memorandum of Understanding, signed by the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE on February 22, 2002, on the grounds that it was “illegal and unconstitutional”, under the provisions of Article 140 of the Constitution.       

PRINT THIS STORY

Contact Information: Send mail to gosl@presidentsl.org with questions or comments about this web site. 
Last Updated Date: July 31, 2003  -7.30 GMT.