The Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process (SCOPP) and the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) agreed their weekly meetings have resulted in a greater understanding by both parties of issues relating to the Ceasefire Agreement and the peace process. SLMM agreed that a closer relationship between SLMM and the LTTE Peace Secretariat would further strengthen its peace monitoring role.

SLMM and SCOPP discussed the recent report of the U.S. based Human Rights Watch on Sri Lanka and both sides noted that recent positive developments in Sri Lanka such as the training of police in human rights matters and the creation of citizen committees in the districts in the North and the East needed to be highlighted more.

SLMM asked SCOPP about reports of what it said were increased abductions in the East. SCOPP asked SLMM to provide details of the alleged abductions and said it will look into the matter. Both sides agreed that ensuring public safety was essential to restoring normalcy to the region.

SLMM said its local monitors have reported constant shelling in the North and the East. SCOPP asked for details and reiterated rules of engagement were that actions were directed only at military targets and no indiscriminate shelling takes place.

SLMM said its recent visit to Jaffna showed a shortage of food and an increase in prices   and that it noted restrictions on fishing in the region. SCOPP said it expected the food shipments to increase and expected a dramatic improvement in the situation in Jaffna soon.