Deadly violence in Sri Lanka must not derail peace process – Annan

Strongly condemning the recent violence in Sri Lanka, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today voiced hope that it will not hamper the commitment of the Government or rebels to the peace process.

The Secretary-General’s statement, issued by his spokesman in New York, came in response to clashes in Jaffna and the northeast of Sri Lanka, where more than twenty soldiers and civilians have reportedly been killed over the last three days.

“The Secretary-General is very concerned about the increasing tensions in the country and appeals to all parties to uphold the 2003 ceasefire agreement,” his spokesman said, voicing hope that the violence “will not undermine the commitment of the new Government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to the peace process.”