The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) have demanded a safe passage from the Sri Lankan Government (Lanka) to fly out of the only international airport in Colombo to attend April 19-21 negotiations in Switzerland.

LTTE Chief Negotiator Anton Balasingham has demanded this safe to the Norwegian International Development Minister Erik Solheim who has promised to relay the security concern to Lanka. 

The United Nation’s Sri Lankan Monitoring Mission (SLMM) has warned that continued violence in the island could seriously damage gains from the peace process. Last week, 8 LTTE guerrillas died exploding their boat as they attacked a Lankan naval boat killing 6 Lankan navy men. The LTTE has denied its involvement but no one believes their denials.

The LTTE accuses the Government of arming and supporting rebel LTTE Karuna faction to attack its cadres. Although the Government denies this charge, it tacitly accepted the accusation when it agreed not to support militias in Tamil controlled areas.