A top source close to the President also said the international community too was in favour of a national government.

Interests from outside Sri Lanka that have played a significant role in prolonging the island’s war.

Tamil Eelam Police Chief B. Nadesan discusses the multi-functionary expansion of his force, including the use of DNA forensics.

The Karuna Group, EPDP and PLOTE are singled out amongst anti-LTTE armed groups.

“I’m not sure what report he is referring to. We have always maintained armed groups are operating in government-controlled areas.”

“The TRO is a legally registered Sri Lankan charity and its mission is to provide much needed relief, rehabilitation and development for the people of the northeast of Sri Lanka.”

Protesters burnt two buses that defied the hartal as Muslims also launch anti-Karuna Group demonstrations.

“We also note that many Tamils actively and willingly support the LTTE.”

Can a ‘national government’ leave out the JVP and pursue peace?

Singapore mourns the Jaffna Tamil who became first foreign minister.

The leading European representative of an anti-Tamil Tiger paramilitary group who travelled to Geneva to protest outside the peace talks in Geneva last month was arrested by Swiss authorities on long-standing criminal charges, reports said last week.

UK resident Virajah Ramaraj, reportedly a leading member of the ENDLF paramilitary group, was arrested outside the United Nations offices in Geneva on Wednesday February 22 Tamil sources said.

The family of one of the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchchi (ITAK) contestants, an ethnic Muslim, at the forthcoming poll for the Jaffna Municipal Council was attacked last week amid a general campaign of intimidation against the party.

ITAK is the name under which the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), an alliance of Sri Lanka’s four biggest Tamil parties and which is strongly supportive of the Tamil Tigers, is competing in the island-wide local government polls this month.

“We are safe because the LTTE is here. But we need more. We cannot go out and fish in case the navy take us away.”

Starting in April there will be at least one thing that Sri Lanka’s government and the Tamil Tigers will be able to agree on - the time.