Sri Lanka's government yesterday said it will provide safe passage for Tamil Tiger officials travelling to Geneva for peace talks.
"We will provide the necessary security in spite of their provocations," government spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said. Tamil Tiger leaders must travel through Colombo, the site of the country's only international airport, to fly to Switzerland for talks on October 28.
Rebel political chief Suppiah Thamilselvan was quoted as saying by the pro-rebel TamilNet website that attending talks would depend on the government guaranteeing their security in the capital. Senior rebel officials usually avoid travelling outside their stronghold in the northeast, fearing they could be a military target.
"We have accommodated them over the years. We will provide necessary security, although they have unleashed terror ... even outside the northeast," Rambukwella said. "We are a democratic government and not a terrorist outfit."
