Sri Lanka Wants to Formalize Ceasefire with Tamil Rebels

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, January 04, 2002

Sri Lanka Wants to Formalize Ceasefire with Tamil Rebels

Sri Lankan government is planning to work out a memorandum of understanding(MOU) to formalize the ceasefire with separatist Tamil Tiger rebels which both sides are observing.

Sri Lankan government is planning to work out a memorandum of understanding(MOU) to formalize the ceasefire with separatist Tamil Tiger rebels which both sides are observing.

Constitutional Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris told a press conference on Thursday that the next step in the peace process forthe government is to try to reach a MOU with Tamil rebels which will contain conditions mutually agreed by both sides.

He said that the government is taking a step-by-step approach to achieve peace in the war-torn country and the peace process is slow and steady.

In the latest move which could hopefully bring about the earlytalks between the two sides, the government announced on Wednesdaythe easing of the economic embargo imposed in the north and east of the country.

Both sides are observing a month-long ceasefire which started on Christmas Eve last year.

The Tamil rebels have demanded ceasefire, the lifting of the ban on them and the economic embargo imposed on areas controlled by them before they enter talks with the government.

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