Release date:  30 July 2003
Release time: Immediate

THE ACTING HEAD OF SLMM WRONGLY QUOTED IN THE MEDIA

The Acting Head of Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission, SLMM, Mr. Hagrup Haukland, has been wrongly quoted in different Media yesterday and today, regarding the possibility of the Sri Lanka Armed Forces using force to remove the LTTE camp in Wan Ella area. In this respect there have been made several enquiries by the Media to SLMM Headquarters in Colombo. Therefore SLMM finds it necessary to state the following:
 

SLMM wants to emphasize that SLMM has not even made the slightest suggestion of using force. Such a suggestion would be completely contradictory to the role of SLMM in this country. SLMM constantly advises and urges the two Parties not to use force, but to solve their disputes via negotiations and dialogue. The Government of Sri Lanka, at different meetings with SLMM, has never mentioned the possibility of using force. The Government of Sri Lanka and the Ministry of Defense have always requested SLMM’s and/or the Facilitators’ intervention as the appropriate means of settling disputes. That has not changed in any ways, and in this case, that is exactly what the Government of Sri Lanka requested of SLMM.
 

Released by:
SLMM HQ
Colombo
 

Ref: SLMM HQ/30th July 2003/MED/6030