SLMM warned over Icelander's Wanni visit

by Shanika Sriyananda

The Government has warned the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) over the unauthorised 'transportation' of Iceland's Foreign Ministry official for a meeting with the LTTE in the Wanni. The Government reiterated that the truce monitors could be sent back for violating diplomatic regulations.

Suspicion over the 'possible double standard' of the truce monitors came to light following the meeting between Iceland's Foreign Ministry Counsellor Bjarni Vestmann and S.P. Thamilselvam in Kilinochchi. Government Defence spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella told the 'Sunday Observer' that the Government could ask the SLMM to pack up and go but still gave them room as the Government was committed to a negotiated settlement.

Meanwhile, the Government will re-examine the Ceasefire Agreement (CFA) if the SLMM continues to engage in such activities, which are beyond the mandate given to the truce monitors under the CFA.

"The Government still feels that the SLMM is a line of communication to the LTTE as we are very serious about having a negotiated settlement.

If it becomes more intolerable in terms of national security we will take appropriate measures", he said adding that more stern action will be taken against such violations by the truce monitors.

He said that this was not the first time that the SLMM had violated diplomatic regulations and the Government has reasonable doubts that the SLMM was assisting such diplomats to meet the LTTE.

Minister Rambukwella said though there was no information about what they had discussed in Kilinochchi, no diplomat could have a private visit to the Wanni. "By holding a diplomatic passport he had gone on a private visit under the cover of the SLMM. This clearly shows that the SLMM is a passage for some foreign agents to visit the LTTE", he said.

The Government could not tolerate such activities by the SLMM any more and there are files of letters of apologies from the SLMM for such actions. "There should be a limit to this type of apologies. We have to settle this with the SLMM as this is not the first time that an act of this nature has taken place.

This clearly shows that there may have been probabilities and possibilities where they invite anybody whom the LTTE wants and take them to their destination", he said.

Minister Rambukwella said that this should be stopped and the Government would check their movements in future.

He said that the Government could not compromise national security and overlook the Constitution whatever the CFA, MoUs or agreements and would not hesitate to take stern action against the truce monitors.

Meanwhile, the Government has decided to take steps to check all SLMM vehicles entering the Wanni. The Iceland Government has expressed its apologies over the issue.

SLMM apologises again

The following is the SLMM statement regarding Bjarni Vestmann's visit:

The SLMM regrets misunderstandings about the purpose of Vestmann's visit, and subsequent information published without SLMM involvement and consent. Vestmann was incorrectly portrayed as an Icelandic official, while he in fact was in Sri Lanka as a guest of the SLMM. The SLMM regrets that Sri Lankan authorities were not duly informed about Vestmann's visit. The SLMM furthermore regrets that Vestmann experienced these difficult occurrences while visiting the Mission.

The SLMM holds full responsibility for these unfortunate proceedings.