Meanwhile the National Peace Council in a press statement says that for the past two months, the issue of the impending British decision whether or not to ban the LTTE has taken center stage of public interest. Both the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE seemed to be deciding on their actions with the British ban in mind, and not with making a success of the Norwegian-facilitated peace process in their minds. The indefinite postponement of that decision by the British government is an opportunity for the two parties to get away from an over-emphasis on the British ban and to take positive steps regarding the peace process. The National Peace Council believes that an undue amount of importance has become attached to the issue of the British ban. The NPC notes that it must be borne in mind that the British legislation to ban organisations deemed to be terrorist was developed to protect their interests, not with our interests in mind. Whatever decision the British take will not change in the slightest the issue of justice and the need for power-sharing between the ethnic communities in Sri Lanka. The NPC further adds that when a delegation of inter-religious leaders who visited the Wanni together with the National Peace Council and met with the LTTE earlier last week, the LTTE representatives had said that the LTTE was prepared to drop the demand for a separate state if a peaceful and just solution was negotiated with them by the government. The peace organization observes that "the prolongation of the conflict, and the failure to resolve it, will continue to bleed the country physically, economically and morally," Published: Mon Feb 26 07:37:24 EST 2001

Two prominent Bishop's, Rayappu Joseph of Mannar and Bishop Saunderanayagam for Jaffna have written to Tiger Chief Velupillai Prabhakaran appealing to him to stand by his position of a unilateral truce and initiate a peace process as soon as possible.

The Norwegian backed peace process was seen to gather momentum last week when President Kumaratunge also stated that she expected to begin the first round of negotiations with the LTTE within the next two months. The Government however have refused to observe the Tiger ceasefire and insist that a de-escalation of the conflict can begin only after negotiations are progressing satisfactorily. Published: Mon Feb 26 07:37:23 EST 2001

Sri Lankan cricketers, some with folded hands, and England players observed a two-minute silence on Monday ahead of the last day's play of the first test to mourn the death of the game's legendary batsman, Donald Bradman.Bradman, heralded as much for his humility and integrity off the cricket field as for his outstanding play on it, died at his Adelaide home Sunday at the age of 92. More... Published: Mon Feb 26 09:09:45 EST 2001