SLMM team in Geneva today

Chamikara WEERASINGHE

COLOMBO: The Chief of Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) Hagrup Haukland and spokesperson of the Mission, Helen Olafsdottir, will be in Geneva today to participate in the ceasefire talks to be held between Government and the LTTE.

Olafsdottir told the Daily News yesterday that herself and SLMM chief Haukland will participate the talks. "The SLMM is expected to take part in all discussions to be held between the Government and the LTTE from February 22," she said.

Asked to explain their function as a participatory group to these talks, Olafsdottir explained: "The SLMM has identified many problems of the Ceasefire Agreement and it has already forwarded these concerns for the consideration of the parties."

The focus of the SLMM will be effective implementation of the ceasefire, which will require commitment from both sides, she pointed out. According to SLMM Chief Hagrup Haukland, the SLMM is also to make recommendations on the Ceasefire Agreement in terms of its effective maintenance.

"We plan to share our experience as the truce monitor with the two parties," he said. Asked to elaborate on their experience as to how people in the North and East have reacted to the current ceasefire talks the SLMM spokesperson said the people are hopeful that the talks would be successful and beneficial.