Tamil Tigers declare return to 2002 ceasefire

Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers said today they had recommitted to the island's 2002 ceasefire and have told mediator Norway that they…

Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers said today they had recommitted to the island's 2002 ceasefire and have told mediator Norway that they will ensure the safety of Nordic truce monitors.

"We have committed to the ceasefire agreement and Norway's facilitation role and giving diplomatic immunity and protection to the SLMM monitors who are working in the northeast," S. Puleedevan, head of the Tigers' peace secretariat, said.

A relative of one of the vicctims of last Saturday's attack at Our Lady of Victory Roman Catholic in Pesalai, Sri Lanka mourns at their funeral. Photo: AP
A relative of one of the vicctims of last Saturday's attack at Our Lady of Victory Roman Catholic in Pesalai, Sri Lanka mourns at their funeral. Photo: AP

The Tigers said they had sent a letter to Norway to respond to a set of questions asked after the rebels walked out of talks in Oslo earlier this month without meeting the Sri Lankan government delegation.

Violence has soared since then.

The Tigers did not comment on their previous demand that Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission members from European Union nations leave after EU banned the Tigers as terrorists

  • Join The Irish Times on WhatsApp and stay up to date

  • Sign up for push alerts to get the best breaking news, analysis and comment delivered directly to your phone

  • Listen to In The News podcast daily for a deep dive on the stories that matter