Military

DATE=02/22/03

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-299925

TITLE= SRILANKA/ANNIVERSARY (L-only)

BYLINE=ANJANA PASRICHA

DATELINE=NEW DELHI

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Sri Lanka is observing the first anniversary of a cease-fire signed with Tamil Tiger rebels. Its

been the longest period of peace since Tamil Tigers launched their struggle two decades ago for an

independent homeland for the country's minority Tamil community. Anjana Pasricha has more.

TEXT: Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe released doves, and religious leaders lit a huge oil lamp

at a ceremony in Colombo to mark a year of peace.

In the past, worries about suicide bombings and military check points kept people at home in the

evening. In the south, all that has changed. Tourists have returned, and hotels are doing brisk business.

But the situation is different in the north and east, where the civil war was waged. Armed rebels

and troops still patrol these areas, and tens-of-thousands of families remain displaced.

Residents in the northern Jaffna peninsula held a two-hour protest to demonstrate that peace has

not improved their lives.

The head of Colombo's independent Center for Policy Alternatives, Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu, says,

although the guns are silent, the pace of reconstruction and resettlement has been slow.

/ / / INSERT SARAVANAMUTTU ACT / / /

People in the north and east have to be given immediate relief and material relief from the ravages of

war. They have set up sub-committees, etceteras, but that has not really been translated on the ground. There are whole issues and concerns here with regard to regenerating, revitalizing the economy in the north and east, and getting infrastructure projects as well on line.

/ / / END ACT / / /

Five rounds of peace talks have been held so far. The most significant achievement of the peace process came in December, when rebels agreed to accept regional autonomy, and gave up on demands for a separate homeland.

But many difficult issues remain to be resolved. The rebels have angrily dismissed suggestions that

they should disarm. They have been accused of continuing to recruit child soldiers. Earlier this month

three rebels caught smuggling illegal weapons committed suicide. It was the most serious truce violation so far.

Many political opponents remain skeptical about the final outcome of the truce, and criticize the

government for making too many concessions to the rebels.

/ / / BEGIN OPT / / /

Mr. Saravanamuttu says political opponents feel that the truce has given the Liberation Tigers of Tamil

Eelam, or the L-T-T-E, an opportunity to regroup and re-arm.

/ / / INSERT OPT SARAVANAMUTTU ACT / / /

The political opposition is arguing that the idea of federalism will divide the country, that the

government is really not negotiating with the L-T-T-E, but conceding to the L-T-T-E, and allowing the L-T-T-E, through the cease-fire agreement, to consolidate and establish its control in the north and east.

/ / / END ACT / / /

/ / / END OPT / / /

Despite the concerns, confidence in the peace process remains high. Encouraged by the truce, foreign

donors have promised millions of dollars in aid to rebuild the country, if the two parties to the truce remain

committed to solving the ethnic conflict. Political analysts say, the promise of help from the international community has raised the stakes for both sides to stick to the path of peace, and not return to a conflict that ravaged the economy and killed more than 60-thousand people. (signed)

NEB/AP/TW