Colombo, Mar 11: A renegade guerrilla commander on Thursday said he would meet with the head of Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels if the Tigers allow his breakaway group to exist separately.
Vinayagamoorthi Muralitharan "is not averse to such a meeting," his spokesman, Varathan said.
"But it would be on condition that we are recognised as a separate entity and don't come under the leadership of (Tamil Tiger leader) Velupillai Prabhakaran," said Varathan, who like many rebels uses one name.
The announcement came amid efforts by Kingsley Swamypillai, the Catholic bishop of eastern Sri Lanka, to facilitate a meeting between the rebel commanders to prevent the crisis from escalating into bloodshed.
Muralitharan, also known as Karuna, defected from the Tamil Tigers last week, pulling out 40 per cent of the group's 15,000 troops in an unprecedented split.
There was no immediate response from the Tamil Tigers about the prospects for a meeting.

Muralitharan, who commanded rebel troops in eastern Sri Lanka, pulled his forces out from the main rebel army because he believes the movement may be preparing to go back to war, Varathan said on Wednesday. The Tigers' main northern faction denied it was preparing for war.

Bureau Report