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SLMM STATEMENT TO THE PRESS

The Type of Meeting	Ampara District Sub-Committee Meeting
Date:	Saturday, 23 Nov. 2002.
Venue:	Divisional Secretary’s office, Akkaraipattu.
Time:	09.30-13.00
Purpose:	To submit Recommendations to the Sub-Committee on De-Escalation and Normalization.
Participants:
The GOSL delegation:
	• Austin Fernando, Secretary of Defence • Major General Shantha Kottegoda • Brigadier Sumith Balasuriya, 23 Div • Gp. Captain Kolitha Gunatilleke, SLAF • LSC Siriwardena G.A. Ampara • M. Abdul Majeed, Muslim representative • Nimal Levke, SSP DC STF

GOSL representatives in attendance:
	• KML Sarathchandra, SSP Director • S. Ediriwickrama, SSP Ampara • Col. Mohan Jayawardena, OC Troops Ampara • UP Piyadasa, DS Uhana • WK Sirisena, ASP STF Potuvil • AYASA Karunaratna, ASP STF Maha Oya • RWMC Ranawana, • WJ Jagodaarachchi, ASP Ampara • WP Wimalasena, ASP STF Kathankudy • Lt. Col. KPA Jayasekera, AHQ rep • Major MMS Perera, HQ 23 Div. • P. Edema, ASP STF Ampara • Wing Commander F. Hashim, SLAF Ampara

The LTTE delegation:
	• Mr. Kowsalyan, Head of Political Wing-Batticaloa • Mr. Wawa, Head of the Political Wing-Ampara • Mr. Janarthan, Ampara Commander • Ms. Seetha, Ampara Political Wing • Ms. Banuka, Batticaloa Ampara Political Wing

The SLMM Delegation:
	• Mr. Karl Juliusson, District Head of SLMM- DO 6 • Mr. Pekka Vihervas, Legal Advisor, SLMM-HQ • Mr. Teitur Torkelsson PIO, SLMM-HQ • Edgar Kloevfjell, SLMM Monitor DO 6 • Joint Secretaries: S.Nimalan & Aswath

The following matters were discussed at the Ampara District Committee meeting:

1. Public and private Buildings occupied by STF in Ampara district
2. Status of schools occupied by STF in Ampara district
3. Improvement of transportation by lifting roadblocks
4. Normalization regarding the Muslim Community
5. Land disputes in Selvaveli, Veeramunai, Vattamoddi and Kolikkal
6. Resettlement of Internally displaced People
7. Working relations of LTTE and STF and confidence building
8. Organizational arrangements for Security enhancement, resettlement and rehabiliation.

The meeting took place in a very friendly manner and good mutual understanding between the parties. It is the evaluation of SLMM that during this meeting the parties have established a good working relationship which will be to the direct benefit of the public in Ampara district.1