History: The LTTE has been fighting since 1983. More than 60,000 people on all sides have been killed in the conflict.

Attacks: The LTTE has mounted both a military assault and a terrorist campaign, the latter mainly in Colombo. Attacks are mostly targeted against Sri Lankan military and leading politicians using suicide bombers. Attempts to assassinate the Sri Lankan President in late 1999 and early 2000 were attributed to the LTTE by the media and the Sri Lankan authorities.

Attacks on UK or Western interests: The LTTE has never targeted Western interests directly, though Westerners have been injured as a result of LTTE attacks in Sri Lanka. The LTTE's only attack outside Sri Lanka was the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi in 1991 in response to India's military support for Sri Lanka.

Representation/activities in the UK: The LTTE's International Secretariat is based in the UK, and is responsible for the group's press releases. The UK is also a source of funds for the LTTE. More... Published: Wed Feb 28 12:36:38 EST 2001

The ban means that LTTE will not be able to raise funds and outlaws membership in Britain.

"My recent visit to the north indicate a yearning by the people for a just and lasting peace to enable them to get on with re-building their shattered lives. CAFOD strongly believes that the current peace process facilitated by Norway and supported by the United Kingdom and India offers the best opportunity for securing a just and lasting peace."said CAFOD's Sri Lanka Programme Officer Steve Alston. Published: Wed Feb 28 13:23:25 EST 2001

Despite pressure from the Sri Lankan Government, Britain has yet to state if the LTTE will be placed on this list. Interior Minister, Jack Straw whose role it is to disseminate information has so far remained tight-lipped about the organizations the UK will decide to ban. Straw however it is reported will divulge some information with regard to this issue today. Published: Wed Feb 28 09:27:52 EST 2001

Reliable sources said that negotiations between the Government and the LTTE are definitely on the cards and that while the LTTE have not yet divulged the names of possible negotiators the president has already identified five, including Peiris and Amunugama to play a role. Published: Wed Feb 28 09:27:52 EST 2001

The historical statues near the town of Bamian are to be destroyed according to a decree issued by Taleban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar. " All we breaking are stones" he was quoted as saying.

Many international leaders and organisations including UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan have called for the preservation of the statues. There are, however, obstacles to intervene directly to this matter, says Piyasiri Wijayasekara, Sri Lanka’s deputy permanent delegate to UNESCO; Bamyan statues are not inscribed in UNESCO’s World Heritage Monuments and Sites and the Taleban regime is not recognized as a government by many countries and organisations. Published: Wed Feb 28 06:27:34 EST 2001

Solheim is reported to have disclosed that if both parties do place their signatures to this document peace talks can begin as early as April this year. The Norwegian met with the LTTE's Chief Negotiator Anton Balasingham in London last week for the last time before he will meet with President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge in Colombo next week.

Solheim was expected in Colombo this week but was forced to push back his arrival as President Chandrika Kumaratunge left on a two day visit to India. Though Solheim is now expected in the Island next week this too may change as Kumaratunge is scheduled to leave for Europe for a period of 14 days. The Norwegian as a result may have to bide his time and perhaps meet with her at a European destination.

Meanwhile, Mervyn Silva the Deputy Minister for Social Services & Housing Development for the Fishing Community in the South, today led a protest march along the Galle Road to the British High Commission to hand over a letter demanding that UK proscribe the LTTE. The protesters were stopped at police barriers in the high security area, but Silva together with a few of his supporters was allowed to walk to the BHC and hand over his letter.

The deputy minister addressing a large and unruly crowd minutes before he handed over the letter threatened that if the UK did not ban the Tigers, bigger protests would soon follow.

The Sihala Urumaya too issued a press statement today calling upon the government to refrain from initiating a dialogue with the LTTE and instead to concentrate on militarily defeating the Tigers. Published: Tue Feb 27 10:18:34 EST 2001

The meeting took place in LTTE-controlled territory after the peace delegation received approval to enter it from both the government and LTTE.

As an organisation that seeks to promote a negotiated political solution to the ethnic conflict, the National Peace Council participated in this meeting between the LTTE and the inter-religious peace delegation.

The LTTE leaders who met with the peace delegation are reported to have narrowly escaped being ambushed by suspected government forces shortly after leaving the meeting place. The permission given by the government to the peace delegation to cross over into LTTE-controlled area at this time when the government has refused to reciprocate the LTTE's unilateral ceasefire needs to be appreciated. But, the NPC asserts that the organization views the attempted ambush after a peace meeting as a blow to civic efforts to build bridges of goodwill and understanding between the conflicting parties. Published: Tue Feb 27 10:27:09 EST 2001

The president went on to add that Sri Lanka's public service was sadly lacking in management skills and was still functioning according to an old system that urgently requires upgrading. She further observed that employees in the public service were not committed or skilled in their work and that she intended to change this sorry state of affairs. Published: Tue Feb 27 10:18:34 EST 2001