A Peace Committee comprising religious leaders devoid of politics has been established in the Trincomalee district. This Committee will be a forum for opinion leaders from all communities in the district to discuss various issues significant to the peace process and formulate strategies in this context.

The decision to establish the Peace Committee was a follow up to a visit to Trincomalee by Interior Minister John A. E. Amaratunga. Minister Amaratunga visited Trincomalee on the 13th of October, after a spate of violence, which resulted in the death of three persons. Ministers Gamini Lokuge and T. Maheswaram and Mr. Bodhi Ranasinghe, chairman Hotels Corporation also accompanied him. Mr. M. K. D. S. Gunawardena, MP, Trincomalee District and Mr. Sunil Shantha Ranaweera, ex- MP joined the group in Trincomalee.

At the inception of the ministerial programme in Trincomalee, a conference was held to assess the situation in Trincomalee and obtain views to bring back normalcy to the area. Members of the clergy representing all major religious denominations in Trincomalee, the Government Agent Trincomalee and his senior staff, Commanders of the armed forces, the commanding Officers of the forces in the Trincomalee district, the Inspector General of Police and senior Police personnel participated in the conference.

The Peace Committee is to be convened by the Government Agent and meetings of the Committee will be held once a week. An office will be opened in the District Secretariat for the Peace Committee. The respective Service Commanders and senior Police Officers in the district too will participate in the meetings. The Army is expected to co-ordinate with the LTTE in relation to decisions taken by the Peace Committee. The SLMM has agreed to liaise with the Peace Committee.

The Government Agent was instructed to request members of the public to place their grievances and complaints before the Committee.

The inaugural meeting of the Peace Committee is scheduled for 23rd October 2002 at 5.00 pm.

Minister John Amaratunga has also appointed a Committee on the instructions of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, to inquire into the incident at Kanjiramkuda, in Ampara on 9th October 2002. The Committee, which will be chaired by former Air Vice Marshal Harry Goonatileke, will include Mr. Oliver Weerasena and Mr. Samithambi Vivekanandan. Mr. M. J. Savangan SSP has been appointed Secretary to the Committee.

The Committee is tasked with the following:

Investigating into the incident of the attack on persons on 9th October at Kanjiramkuda with a view to identifying and ascertaining those responsible for the incidents based on prima facie evidence.

Examining the background, reasons for the incidents and the manner in which the incidents took place and proposing measures necessary to overcome and prevent conflicts in the future, inclusive of structural/ organizational arrangements required if any.

Proposing measures to be taken by the Government, LTTE, SLMM and other relevant persons and organizations to promote co-operation and understanding between the LTTE political cadres, residents of the area as well as members of the armed forces, STF and the Police with a view to eliminate recurrence of such incidents.

To ascertain whether there had been any involvement of outside elements responsible for these incidents, in order to cripple the law and order situation in the area and sabotage the ongoing peace process and of so, to identify such element/ elements

To propose the Government a suitable compensatory scheme for the affected persons, due to these incidents.