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LTTE is turning desperate: Army

COLOMBO: Amid claims of further advances by the military into Mullathivu, the last remaining stronghold of the LTTE in the north, Japan on Monday announced that its special representative Yasushi Akashi would visit Sri Lanka on a five-day trip from January 21 to encourage the process towards political solution to the ethnic conflict.

The Japanese embassy here said Mr. Akashi will meet representatives within and outside the government to “encourage their work on the process towards a political solution of the ethnic conflict”. The initiative by an influential member of the Sri Lanka Donor’s Club is the first of its kind since Colombo abrogated the Norwegian- brokered 2002 Cease Fire Agreement in January 2008 and waged a successful campaign against the LTTE.

The government of Mahinda Rajapaksa has vowed to oust the Tigers from its last stronghold — the thick jungles in the Mullathivu district — and initiate the process towards demilitarisation and development of the north and work on a package for devolution of powers to the provinces. Though Norway continues to be the official negotiator of the “peace process”, it has been keeping a very low profile in recent months. Political and diplomatic circles view Mr. Akashi’s visit as a signal from Tokyo that it is willing to play a more active role in the peace process.

Separately, the military said two civilians were killed while three escaped injured when suspected LTTE cadre attacked a group of people in Moneragala district late on Sunday. The Defence Ministry charged that the LTTE was taking on soft targets “to surge calamity in the South”. “These are signs of sheer desperation by the LTTE to divert military attention from the Wanni”.

The Air Force claimed to have launched three successive air raids targeting LTTE defences in Mullathivu. Air Force spokesperson Janaka Nanayakkara said fighter jets had raided the LTTE defences south of Mullathivu in support of troops.

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