Capt. Ajith Boyagoda was taken prisoner by the Tamil Tigers after a sea battle in 1994 and was released in 2002, months after the rebels signed a cease-fire with the government.

Boyagoda handed a truckload of goods to the rebels' deputy political leader Sudha Thangan in the rebel-held northern town of Kilinochchi, on behalf of a leading conglomerate in the capital, Colombo, the TamilNet Web site reported.

Sri Lankan forces have fought a 19-year civil war against the rebels who demanded a separate state for ethnic minority Tamils, accusing majority Sinhalese who control the government and the armed forces, of discrimination.

More than 65,000 people including thousands of fighters from both sides were killed in conflict, which came to a halt with a Norway-brokered cease-fire in February 2002. But peace talks broke down in April 2003 when the Tigers withdrew demanding more autonomy to the Tamil-majority northeast.

More than 30,000 Sri Lankans were killed in the Dec. 26 tsunami that hit the coasts of many Asian and African countries, where more than 160,000 people died.

Boyagoda's gesture comes amid fading hopes of reconciliation between the feuding communities in the face of a common tragedy.

Tamil rebels have accused the government of discrimination in aid distribution to Tamil areas, while the government has charged that the rebels are blocking groups other than non-rebel agencies, from doing relief work.

On the web: www.tamilnet.com Published: Wed Jan 19 12:15:53 EST 2005