Jayantha Dhanapala -
Secretary-General of the Peace Secretariat (SCOPP) and Senior
Adviser to the President - visited Trincomalee on Friday
8th October in pursuance of a policy of visiting the six
District Offices of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM)
for the purpose of ensuring the smooth implementation of
the Ceasefire Agreement (CFA).
Mr.Dhanapala held detailed discussions with Mr. Helge Lyberg
Acting Head of the SLMM Tricomalee District Office, Mr.
Torkil Kloeven Deputy Head of the Naval Monitoring Team
SLMM and the Sri Lanka Government representatives on the
Committee Mr. K. M. H. Akbar and. Ven. Seruvila Saranakeerthi
Thera reviewing the statistics for complaints and violations
which reveal that Trincomalee has the lowest number of ceasefire
violations. The SLMM explained its policy of preventing
violations through confidence-building measures. The abduction
of two Home Guards by the LTTE and the strenuous efforts
being made by the SLMM to secure their unconditional release
was also discussed.
The Peace Secretariat Head also had discussions with four
of the local Heads of NGOs at the Welcombe Hotel, briefing
them on the current situation in the Peace Process and being
informed of developments in Trincomalee.
Mr.Dhanapala called on the Ven. Dehiowita Piyathissa Thera,
Chief Incumbent of the Bodhirajaramaya, China Bay and thereafter
held further discussions with a group of Buddhist monks
and representatives of the Sinhala community assuring them
of the Government's efforts to obtain the release of the
two Home Guards being held hostage by the LTTE and promising
to convey their concerns to the President.
Earlier in the day the SCOPP Head received detailed briefings
from Major-Generals N. Mallawaratchchi and S. Kulatunga,
Rear Admiral Upali Ranaweera, DIG East Neville Wijesinghe
and the GA Trincomalee Mr. Gamini Rodrigo.
Mr. Dhanapala also visited the Naval Dockyard Trincomalee
and addressed the Senior Officers of the Sri Lanka Navy
(SLN).
He was unable to call on the Governor of the North-East
Province since the latter was not in Trincomalee at the
time, while the Principal Secretary of the North-East Provincial
Council regretted his inability to meet Mr. Dhanapala.
Mr.Dhanapala arrived in Trincomalee at 8 a.m. and left as
scheduled at 4:30 p.m. on completion of his programme
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