In a statement following the meeting, the Tigers said that they stressed a cessation of hostilities, an end to military aggression and occupation and removal of the economic embargo on the north-east. The LTTE have been insisting on these demands since 1994, saying that without normalcy in the north-east, peace talks are unlikely to succeed.
President Chandrika and Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake have been stressing that the war against the LTTE will not be relaxed, but the government had secretly allowed the Norwegian delegation to visit the Vanni. The move followed Foreign minister Lakshman Kadirgamar’s visit to Norway in early October.
At a press conference on 3 November, Mr Solheim said he believed that the Tigers are seriously interested in solving the problem through negotiations. The Norwegian delegation had informed the LTTE leader of the international community’s desire that the conflict should be solved within a united Sri Lanka and that the aspirations of the Tamil community must be met in a substantial manner. Observers believe that Mr Prabhakaran’s annual Great Heroes Day message in November will be of considerable interest to the international community.
While President Chandrika spoke over the telephone to Indian Prime Minister Vajpayee on developments, some southern parties intensified opposition to the peace initiative. The People’s Liberation Front (JVP), which has risen as a third force in Sri Lankan politics, says no outside third force is necessary to solve an internal problem of Sri Lanka. According to Colombo newspaper Sunday Times, the Army has raised concerns that the peace initiative would have a devastating effect on the morale of the troops.
The main opposition United National Party said it would support any government initiative towards permanent peace. The UNP has been demanding several measures in exchange for support to the government constitutional reforms. Some of these are, appointment of independent commissions for the police, public service and elections and revival of the commission against bribery.