“However, it is not thought this will upset the ongoing peace process”, said the spokeswoman Helen Olafsdottir.

The Norwegian monitoring mission in Sri Lanka is currently investigating the killing of the soldier before making a ruling.

“We have two different versions of the event” said Ms Olafsdottir, but before making a ruling they would have to establish exactly what happened. Currently both the LTTE and the Sri Lankan Army are claiming that the soldier was closer to their own forward defence line.

In accordance to the current ceasefire agreement, the sides are allowed to encroach only 50 metres into the 600 metre separation zone.

The rebels are reported to have told peace monitors they shot a soldier who had gone beyond the line, armed with binoculars and a hand grenade.

However government officials have lodged a complaint saying the soldiers were unarmed and within their designated area.

Answering question from the BBC Sandeshaya on the implementation of any ruling given by the SLMM, Helen Olafsdottir said, “In the past various rulings have been made that have not been upheld by the violating group but these situations cannot be looked back upon.”

She added that they would do everything to implement the ruling on this occasion.