Colombo categorically rejects Tiger cease-fire  Jan 05, 2001                                                                               

The Sri Lankan government will not in anyway respond to the cease-fire unilaterally declared by the Liberation Tigers last month said Sri Lanka's Minister for Media, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, addressing a press conference in Colombo Friday to announce this week's cabinet decisions. The Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar had clearly stated the position of People's Alliance government regarding a cease-fire and the conditions in which it may consider one, according to Mr.Yapa.

"No cease-fire, Tigers will be eliminated" - Army  Jan 05, 2001 ]                                                                                 

Sri Lanka Army announced over loud-hailers in Batticaloa town on Friday that severe action would be taken against those who organise or take part in hunger-strikes, march, picketing or other forms of protest urging the Sri Lankan government to declare a cease-fire or to begin negotiations with the Liberation Tigers. "The Government will not abide by the cease-fire announced by the Tigers. The war will continue till the Tigers, their supporters and those who advocate secession are eliminated", the soldiers announced.

Tamil parties urge US pressure Jan 05, 2001                       

The United States should exert pressure on the Sri Lankan Government to respond positively to the month-long unilateral cease-fire declared by the Liberation Tigers on 24 December, so as to create a climate conducive for negotiations, representatives of several Tamil parties appealed to the US Ambassador in Colombo during a meeting Friday. A.Vinayakamoorthy, MP and leader of the All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC), N.Kumarakuruparan (Secretary, ACTC), Selvam Adaikalanathan, MP and leader of the Tamil Eelam Liberation Organisation (TELO), N.Srikantha (Chairman, TELO), N.Raviraj, Deputy Mayor of Jaffna, (Tamil United Liberation Front) were among the others who met the US Ambassador, Ashley Wills, on Friday.

Sri Lanka's Civil War Kills Many  Jan 05, 2001                

Escalated fighting in Sri Lanka's civil war killed 3,753 people last year, the defense ministry said Thursday, giving a precise yearly casualty figure for the first time in the 17-year-old insurrection by separatist Tamil rebels. The defense ministry said nearly 3,666 of those killed combatants on both sides. It said 87 civilians were killed in the cross fire. The military said the losses among the rebels were twice as many as among its own forces.

We must press Sri Lanka to accept ceasefire :   Jan 05, 2001

MDMK general secretary Vaiko said on Wednesday that India should exert pressure on the Sri Lankan Government to reciprocate the ceasefire announced by LTTE.Vaiko told mediapersons that the ban on LTTE should be lifted to faciliate a solution to the vexed ethnic crisis, especially after the peace process was initiated by Norway.

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