The Norwegian peace negotiator, in an interview with the BBC said that both the Sri Lankan Government and the LTTE need to build confidence between each other and find a solid foundation to base peace talks on. Mr. Erik Solheim further added that it was not up to Norway to comment on how both parties are conducting themselves whilst waiting for talks. He said that the sooner the peace talks begin the less Sri Lanka would have to suffer from human destruction. He was reluctant to shed light on the "memorandum of understanding" between the two parties or give an indication for future date for talks. The special envoy , though, is optimistic but cautious because the situation in Sri Lanka he said is very complicated and fragile. Published: Thu Mar 29 11:52:37 EST 2001

Saying that Sujith received threatening phone calls in 1998, when handling the investigation of a leading tea firm, Angela is afraid to speak out. Her priority is to protect Ayesha, her one-and-a-half-year-old daughter from future threat. Angela maintains that recently, Sujith was not under any apparent threat.

Senior customs officers and colleagues at Sri Lanka Customs, appear equally confused as to why Sujith was killed. The Director General for Customs, Lakshman Perera yesterday called for police protection for his men. Mr. Perera has pointed out that a mere two weeks ago the Customs Department had requested from the Defence Ministry for customs officers to be given automatic weapons for their safety. At present the officers are given revolvers for their personal protection. The request has not yet been granted and the Defence Ministry had wanted to know why the revolvers that had been already issued cannot continue to be used.

At the time Sujith was killed he had been transferred out of the Customs Preventive Unit but had apparently insisted that he continue to handle investigations under his purview since 1996.

Senior Superintendent of Police, D. W.Prathapasinghe, handling the current investigation into the murder of Sujith reiterated that the police have begun a systematic investigation into the recent cases Sujith had been working on before he was assassinated.

The SSP maintained that it is more prudent to gather as much hard evidence as possible before bringing in possible suspects for questioning. He said vital information was being gathered and the police hoped to make a breakthrough during the course of next week. Published: Thu Mar 29 01:37:06 EST 2001

The Indians are in a quagmire as they are unacceptable to the LTTE, and have by their own actions in the Lankan conflict side-lined themselves. While the Lankan Government would agree to India playing a decisive role in future peace talks with the LTTE, the Tigers are not happy due to India's involvement in the conflict in the 1980's, both as a peace keeping force and later as a military strength which attempted to overpower and destroy the LTTE.

India has to also contend with its Southern politics in Tamil Nadu and has already adapted a public stance against the terrorist activities of the LTTE, banning the rebel force soon after the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi.

India, source say, would like very much to play a more important role in resolving the war in Sri Lanka, but are unable to enter the present peace arena facilitated by Norway. The Norwegians continue to insist that India is kept well informed of the protracted process initiated by Norway. Published: Thu Mar 29 01:37:06 EST 2001

Perera, was shot dead at around 8.30 a.m. while travelling in his car at Kelaniya. Two men allegedly travelling on a motor cycle are reported to have shot Perera and his brother-in-law who was also in the car with him at the time. The reason for Perera's killing is yet not known, though a special police investigation claim that the motive may lie within the Custom's department. Published: Wed Mar 28 02:47:45 EST 2001