The Devil Dance...grim situation in Sri Lanka

The situation in Sri Lanka is grim. Even as I write this there are reports that the Sri Lankan army have launched their first ground offence since the 2002 Norway brokered ceasefire was signed.

I spoke with the military spokesman a while ago he confirmed the development and he calls it a humanitarian action to open the sluice gate of an irrigational canal inside rebel held territory in the eastern district of Trincomalee.

This comes after 4 days of airial bombardment by Krif aircraft of the Sri Lankan Airforce.

The situation is worse now because this comes as Finland and Denmark have pulled out of the 57 member Sri Lanka Monitoring mission.

The rebels had moved reinforcements in anticipation and are reported to be responding with heavy gun fire.

The withdrawal of Finland and Denmark will reduce the size of the SLMM by a third.

The Chief of the SLMM has said that in the light of serious violations of ceasefire conditions by both the LTTE and the Sri Lankan government...the ceasefire is as good as dead.