Sri Lanka on Friday announced entering into a month-long ceasefire with Tamil Tiger rebels in a bid to clear the way for political negotiations.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's office said in a statement that they were reciprocating the truce announced on Wednesday by the rebel LTTE.
The ceasefire will go into effect from Christmas eve, the statement said. It added that the government was also lifting an economic embargo on areas held by the rebels in the island's north.
As part of its initiative to bring about an atmosphere conducive to invigorating the peace process, the government will take immediate steps to improve living conditions for civilians in the uncleared areas, the statement said.
Uncleared areas means the territory held by the LTTE in the island's north and parts of the east.
Wickremesingh's office in its brief three-paragraph statement said that government forces will also be ordered to observe a cessation of hostilities from midnight on Monday.
The Prime Minister's Office said that the truce declared by the tigers was a goodwill measure.
Bureau Report
