LTTE declares unilateral ceasefire

The LTTE Political Wing announced it will observe a unilateral ceasefire that is devoid of military actions during the period of the SAARC conference from 26th July to 4th August.

A rebel statement said the Tigers would refrain from military action during the 15th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) conference but warned they would be forced to take "defensive action" if the island's military carried out any offensives against them.

"As a sign of this goodwill, our movement is glad to inform that it will observe a unilateral ceasefire that is devoid of military actions during the period of the SAARC conference from 26th July to 4th August and give our cooperation for the success of the conference," the Liberation Tigers of the Tamil Eelam (LTTE) said in an e-mailed statement.

The government said it had not received an official ceasefire notification from the rebels and expressed wariness about the move.


Meanwhile the head of the government peace secretariat, Rajiva Wijesinghe, says the government needs time to carefully consider the LTTE call for a ceasefire during the SAARC summit and will wait till it is officially communicated.