In a bid to end the ongoing bickering over the LTTE demand for free access to the navy-held Jaffna islands, security forces have suggested that LTTE cadres’ presence in these strategically situated islands should be subjected to the presence of Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) representatives,  “The Sunday Island’ learns. 

The SLMM has received representations both from the LTTE and the navy, for and against unlimited access to Jaffna islands a few weeks ago.

Security forces authorities have indicated that the presence of LTTE cadres in the Jaffna islands should be subjected to attendance of ceasefire monitors.  Earlier the navy declared the Jaffna islands as closed military zones and denied LTTE permission-free access prompting the LTTE to write to chief ceasefire monitor Major General Trond Furuhovde.

Navy Commander Vice Admiral Daya Sandagiri accompanied by Minister Milinda Moragoda last Thursday flew to Jaffna where they discussed a gamut of issues including the rentry of LTTE cadres to the Jaffna islands.

The sources expressed the belief that they would be able to tackle the Jaffna islands issue soon along with other thorny issues including reconnaissance flights by Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) over the North-East, movement of  Sea Tiger convoys and free transport on the Kandy-Jaffna A9 road.  Furuhovde currently in Oslo was to brief Norwegian officials involved in the Sri Lankan peace process with regard to disputes, the two parties to the Oslo-brokered ceasefire arrangement.

The security forces maintained that the ceasefire agreement does not bar the SLAF from continuing with UAV flights.

Early last week, the navy opposed an LTTE bid to move around 250 armed cadres in five or six Sea Tiger craft from the Wanni to the east.  Despite indicating that they were going ahead with the transfer last moment called off the movement thus averting a major crisis, the sources said.

The sources also said that senior Vavuniya -based army officer and senior LTTE representatives held talks in the no-man’s land last week in a bid to iron out differences over the A9 road. The talks helped, the sources said, adding that the meeting was arranged by the SLMM.