Sri Lanka said on Friday it would match a ceasefire declared by Tamil Tiger separatists, moving the two sides one step closer to peace talks. "The government welcomes the announcement of 19th December by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)," said a statement from Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's office.
"And as a goodwill gesture to facilitate peace, will observe a cessation of hostilities from midnight 24th December 2001 until midnight 21st January 2002," the statement said.
On Wednesday, the LTTE announced a truce from Christmas Eve and urged Wickremesinghe, whose United National Party (UNP) government was elected earlier this month on a campaign pledge to quickly open peace talks, to respond positively. The move by Wickremesinghe is in sharp contrast to the previous People's Alliance government, which launched an offensive last year just hours after the Tigers declared a similar holiday ceasefire.
The LTTE eventually extended that unilateral truce for four months before a Norwegian-brokered peace effort finally broke down.
There was no immediate comment from the LTTE, fighting since 1983 for a separate state in Sri Lanka's north and east. British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said the truces were an encouraging first step.
"This is an excellent opportunity for all concerned to work together to renew the peace process. I hope this will be a genuine ceasefire that will be maintained," Straw said in a statement issued through the High Commissioner to Sri Lanka.
The last ceasefire by both sides ended in April 1995 when Tamil rebels launched an attack on government Navy boats, killing 12 sailors. That ceasefire lasted less than half a year. Bureau Report