SLMM: Tigers have no control over Lankan waters

BY ANANTH Palakidnar

THE Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) yesterday reiterated that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) has no control over the territorial waters in any part of the island.

SLMM Chief Hagrup Haukland told the Daily News that following the Navy complaint on the attack on their Israel-built fast attack Dvora vessel on Saturday, the SLMM was investigating the incident.

"The Navy has complained that the attack has been carried out by the LTTE. SLMM monitors had met the LTTE 's representative Elilan in Sampur, Trincomalee on Saturday and inquired about the attack in Trincomalee.

However the LTTE representative denied their involvement. The SLMM has even contacted Killinochchi and urged their explanation over the incident.

"Unlike in the land areas in the North and East, the LTTE has no control at all over the territorial waters around the island. The LTTE has its militant wing called Sea Tigers and claim that they have control over the North-Eastern waters.

But that claim is against international law and nothing is mentioned about the LTTE having control over the North and East waters in the Ceasefire Agreement," Haukland said.

The Navy yesterday launched a search for the missing 13 crewmen. The Navy top brass were in Trincomalee yesterday overseeing search operations. Air Force aircraft were making reconnaissance flights in the area where the vessel went down.

Meanwhile, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) had a lengthy meeting with President Mahinda Rajapakse on the current situation in the North and East Saturday.

The TNA delegation requested President Rajapakse to do his best to resume the talks with the LTTE to create a trouble-free North and East.

The President expressing concern over recent incidents in the North and East said he would take steps to bring the situation under control.

The TNA delegation led by TNA Parliamentarian R.Sampanthan comprised other TNA Members of Parliament Suresh Premachandran, N. Raviraj and Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam.