Sri Lanka: Save truce a priority

Representatives of the main foreign backers of Sri Lanka peace process have held an emergency meeting with leaders of the Tamil Tiger rebels.

The meeting follows the worst outbreak of violence in Sri Lanka since the two sides agreed a ceasefire in 2002.

On Friday, the government accused the Tamil Tigers of ambushing a road convoy, killing 13 sailors on the way to their base.

But the rebels said they were not connected to the incident.

The envoys from Japan, Norway, the European Union and the United States met the Tamil Tiger’s political head, SP Thamilselvan, in the northern rebel stronghold of Kilinochchi.

No details have as yet emerged of the discussions.

Earlier, they met Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake.

“The prime minister impressed upon the need for the international community to take specific measures to ensure that the Tamil Tigers desist from further escalating violence and return to the negotiating table,” a government statement said.