(by Kasun Yapa Karunaratne)

The peace initiative of the Ranil Wickremesinghe government took another major turn yesterday with reports that the government is considering an extension of the ceasefire for one year.

Government sources told the Daily Mirror yesterday the announcement was likely to be made next week, before the current ceasefire expires on January 24 and an assurance has been received that the LTTE would also fall in line.

The sources said the LTTE’s strict observance of the current ceasefire had prompted the government to take the decision on the extension with moves for peace talks also going ahead and Minister Milinda Moragoda likely to visit Oslo soon as a special emissary of the Prime Minister.

They said that among other topics Mr. Moragoda was likely to take up the possibility of Oslo being the venue for peace talks, with wide speculation about other venues such as South India, Kathmandu or Madhu.

Meanwhile Rehabilitation and Resettlement Minister Jayalath Jayawardene, who visited Jaffna on Thai Pongal day is reported to have sought the LTTE’s green light for the de-mining of the strategic A9 highway before opening it to the public. Government sources said they hoped to get the LTTE to agree to this with the help of the Norwegian peace brokers.

This came as the relaxation of the trade embargo came into effect yesterday and essential items started flowing into uncleared areas of the North.