Home > Struggle for Tamil Eelam > Sri Lanka's Broken Pacts & Evasive Proposals > Chandrika - LTTE Talks: 1994/95 > Declaration of Cessation of Hostilities, 5 January 1995

Chandrika - LTTE Talks: 1994/95 

Declaration of Cessation of Hostilities
5 January 1995

A seven point document was formulated during the second round of talks which took place on 2 January 1995. The Sri Lanka government delegation included a senior Sri Lanka Army Officer, Brigadier A.S.Pieris and a Sri Lanka naval officer, Captain Prasanna Rajaratne. The LTTE delegation was led by Mr. Tamilselvan, Head of the Political Wing. The Declaration of the cessation of hostilities was signed on 5 January 1995, simultaneously by Mr.Velupillai Pirabaharan, Leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, in Jaffna,  and President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, President of Sri Lanka and Commander in Chief, in Colombo - and the document was exchanged between them through the good offices of the International Red Cross Committee. The Cessation of Hostilities came into effect from 8 January 1995.

Text of Declaration

The modalities for the implementation of the agreed Cessation of Hostilities by the Government and LTTE for a specified period will be as follows:-

1. There will be no offensive operations by either party during this period. An offensive operation will be considered a violation of the agreement.

2. The Security Forces and the LTTE will maintain their present positions on the ground, keeping a minimum of 600 metres between each other. However, each party would reserve the right of movement within 100 metres from their own bunker lines, keeping a minimum of 400 metres in between. Any party moving in the restricted areas would be considered an offensive operation.

3. The Navy and Airforce will continue to perform their legitimate tasks for safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country, from external aggression, without in any way engaging in offensive operations against the LTTE, or causing any obstructions to legitimate and bona fide fishing activity in specified areas.

4. Acts such as sabotage, bomb explosions, abductions, assassinations and intimidation directed at any political group, party or any individual will amount to an offensive operation.

5.a. It is suggested that Committees to deal with violations of this agreement be set up to inquire into nay instances of violation of the above terms of agreement. These Committees could be set up in the areas of Jaffna, Mannar, Vavuniya, Mullaitivu, Batticaloa-Ampara and any other areas as deemed necessary

b. It will be the responsibility of these Committees to take immediate action on complaints made by either party to this agreement to inquire into and resolve such disputes.

c. These Committees could comprise representatives drawn from Canada, Netherlands, Norway, ICRC and from retired Judges or Public Officers, Religious Heads and other leading citizens: all appointed by mutual agreement.

d. Each Committee could consist of five members, viz: 02 from Government, 02 from LTTE and, 01 from a Foreign Country who will be Chairman.

e. Freedom of movement for the Committees to perform their tasks will have to be ensured by both parties to the agreement.

f. Facilities required for the Committees to act swiftly and impartially will have to provided by mutual agreement.

6. Recommend establishment of communication between Sri Lanka and LTTE military area leaders which will enable them to sort out problems expeditiously, locally.

7. Cessation of hostilities will continue till notice of termination is given by either party. Such notice should be given at least 72 hours before termination.

Signed on 5 January 1995

Mail Us

Copyright 1998/2009 All Rights Reserved

Home