The election-time rhetoric now appears discarded. The invitation issued by President Kumaratunga to Norway to resume its facilitative services and seek to recommence the peace talks with the LTTE offers fresh hope of a forward movement in the stalled
President Chandrika Kumaratunga reneged on her previous promises, and by dissolving Parliament and ordering elections, she has ended up conferring enhanced legitimacy on the LTTE.
The surprise was not that the LTTE did, in fact, make maximalist demands. The surprise is that they did it so well. By clearly refraining from frontally addressing emotive issues, they've prevented immediate red flags.
In announcing its withdrawal from the peace negotiations, the LTTE is making it clear that its cooperation is essential if the Sri Lankan government is to attain its aid target.
