NEWSLINKS US EDITION SOUTH ASIA COLUMNISTS DIARY SPECIALS INTERVIEWS CAPITAL BUZZ REDIFF POLL DEAR REDIFF THE STATES ELECTIONS ARCHIVES SEARCH REDIFF
In a move that marks the de facto end of the ban on the LTTE in Sri Lanka, the Tamil militant group is preparing to open political offices in areas controlled by the Sri Lankan army.
The LTTE is to open offices in Vavuniya, Batticaloa, Trincomalee, Mannar and Ampara districts in the coming weeks, reports from the Tamil-majority north and east said.
The terms of the truce between the government and the LTTE allow the group to begin political work in phases.
Fifty militants will be permitted to enter the army-controlled territories for political work in the Tamil-majority north and east after a month.
The number will be increased to 100 after 60 days and will be unlimited after three months.
The LTTE remains an outlawed organisation under Sri Lanka's anti-terrorism act, and removing the proscription has been one of its stated pre-conditions for opening peace negotiations.
Two days ago, Tamil moderate politicians espousing the LTTE's cause received an assurance from Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe that a constructive decision would be made on their demand for removing the 1998 ban.
More reports on Sri Lanka
Tell us what you think of this report
