Today Dr Palitha Kohona, Secretary General of SCOPP together with Ms Geetha De Silva, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs met with the diplomatic representatives of the Nordic countries resident in Sri Lanka to discuss the future of the SLMM in view of the LTTE threat to the citizens of the EU member states in the SLMM. It was pointed out that the threat by the LTTE to withdraw security guarantees for the EU citizens in the SLMM will severely cripple the functioning of the SLMM and that this may be the LTTE’s goal. The Government totally rejects the rationale behind the LTTE’s decision as the SLMM monitors do not represent their home countries, but function under the common banner of the SLMM as international civil officers.

It was pointed out that the EU decision to list the LTTE was a measure consistent with its established terrorism related criteria applicable to the behavioural attributes of the LTTE. The decision of the LTTE to expel citizens of EU member countries in the SLMM from areas under its domination only reflects a spiteful policy approach of the LTTE towards the international community which is totally inconsistent with and disrespectful of accepted standards of civilized behaviour. It was also impressed upon the diplomatic representatives of the need to remain steadfast against the threats of the LTTE, a terrorist group, due to the precedent that this would set, which would also reflect on the responses of the international community to terrorism globally.

It was also pointed out that the attitude of the LTTE was totally at variance with the rules of international behaviour as agreements solemnly concluded could be varied only in accord with their own provisions or in consultation with the other parties and not capriciously and unilaterally.

Diplomats representing the Ambassador, Royal Norwegian Embassy in Sri Lanka, Charge d’Affaires of the Embassy of Sweden in Sri Lanka, Charge d’Affaires of the Embassy of Iceland in Sri Lanka, and the Minister-Counsellor (Resident in Colombo) of the Royal Danish Embassy, New Delhi, attended the meeting.