'Providing security escort to LTTE is not required by the CFA'

The Secretariat for Co-ordinating the Peace Process (SCOPP) was responding to a LTTE ultimatum to the government to provide security escort for Tamil Tigers travelling through government-held areas.

SCOPP spokesperson Sharminee Serasinghe told BBC Sandeshaya (BBC Sinhala) that the government has decided to provide security escort to LTTE within the government-controlled areas for a round trip from Kilinochchi to Batticaloa and a round trip from Kilinochchi to Trincomalee.

General Secretary of the SCOPP Jayantha Dhanapala has informed the government’s decision to the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) in a meeting held on Monday.

'Goodwill gesture'

The spokesperson said the government earlier provided security escort to LTTE as a confidence building measure and as a goodwill mission.

Responding to Tigers’ demand that their cadres be transported in the same vehicles together with the security personnel, the SCOPP said while a monitor from the SLMM travels with the LTTE, Sri Lanka Army will provide security escort.

The LTTE has urged the government to make steps to provide security escort to their cadres travelling through government areas before 15 July.

Otherwise, the LTTE said, their cadres will have to be armed while travelling through government-controlled areas.

The CFA prohibits armed LTTE members to travel trough the government-controlled territory.