Top clergymen for Wanni to end clashes

by Ananth Palakidnar

A top level peace delegation of Buddhist and Catholic clergy will visit the Wanni shortly to explore the possibilities of resuming the stalled peace process bring an end to the ongoing clashes in the North and the East according to Mannar Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Rayappu Joseph.

The Bishop who succeeded in making the warring sides to agree on creating a "no war zone" around the Madhu Shrine area during the festive season later this month told the Sunday Observer, that the clergy in the south has expressed its concerns over the clashes that have violated the Ceasefire Agreement (CFA) to a great extent. Therefore it has been felt that a delegation should travel to the Wanni to talk to bring an end to the clashes and find ways and means of resuming the stalled peace process.

"The delegation of clergy is expected to travel shortly to meet the LTTE leadership. The representatives of the Ramanya Nikaya, Amarapura Nikaya, Asgiriya Chapter and the Maha Bodhi Society are expected to be included in the delegation. Along with the Buddhist clergy, the Catholic Bishop of Anuradhapura Norbert Andradi and the Galle Bishop Harold Anthony would also join the delegation that will travel to the Wanni", Bishop Rayappu Joseph said.

The Bishop also added that prior to the signing of the CFA the clergy from the south had meetings with the LTTE hierarchy in the Wanni. "So I believe that the fresh initiative would give some hope in bringing an end to the clashes. I feel personally that no proper attempt has been made for the past one year to stop the clashes. Therefore initiating talks in stopping the clashes at this juncture is vital", Bishop Rayappu Joseph said.

Meanwhile, the spokesperson of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission Thorfinnur Omarsson told the Sunday Observer that the SLMM Chief Lars Johan Solvberg would brief the Director General of the Peace Secretariat Dr. Rajiva Wijesinha on the discussions he had with the LTTE representatives in Killinochchi on Wednesday.

"The SLMM Chief had met the Head of the Peace Secretariat in Killinochchi S. Pulithevan and the LTTE spokesperson Rasiah Illanthirayan. The talks were positive. They assured their commitment towards the CFA. The SLMM Chief would meet Dr. Wijesinghe on Wednesday and brief him in detail on the talks in Killinochchi. It was after two months the talks between the SLMM and the LTTE had taken place for the first time on Wednesday," Omarsson said.