Colombo, Sept 28: UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's scheduled visit to Sri Lanka has landed in controversy with the government raising objections to his meeting LTTE
leaders in the rebel-held territory.
Annan was due to begin a three-day visit to Sri Lanka
from October 10 on his way to India and Malaysia, but he may
be forced to either cancel or postpone his trip to the island
nation, media reports said today.
The English language 'Sunday Leader' said Prime
Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was not keen on Annan visiting
territory held by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)
during the Sri Lankan tour.
The LTTE had asked Annan to visit the rebel-held Wanni
region during his Sri Lanka visit, but "the government,
objected to the secretary general meeting the LTTE leadership
in Wanni since it could be interpreted as giving the rebel
organisation the status of a separate state", the daily said.
Annan would have been highest ranking international
diplomat to visit the rebel-held Wanni where LTTE run a de
facto separate state with their own police and a civil
administration and collect "taxes”.
The daily said the problem with Annan meeting Tiger
supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran was to do with the venue. The
government was prepared to allow a meeting anywhere outside
the rebel-held regions.
However, Prabhakaran being a fugitive from law in Sri
Lanka, he is unable to travel to any area held by the
government and not face arrest. The elusive rebel leader is
not expected to leave his stronghold, diplomats said.
Bureau Report
