Security Eased as Sri Lankan Cease-Fire Begins
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COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — A cease-fire between the Sri Lankan government and rebel Tamil Tigers took effect at midnight Monday, cheering residents of the capital, where security restrictions were eased.
The implementation of the monthlong cease-fire raised hopes that the new government and the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam may be able to talk peace and end the 18-year civil war.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who won the Dec. 5 election after campaigning for peace and economic recovery, ordered most roads reopened and military checkpoints dismantled.
“As agreed, our forces have stopped all offensive military actions from midnight tonight,” said Brig. Sanath Karunaratne, a Defense Ministry spokesman. “But we reserve the right to retaliate if the truce is broken by the other side.”
Rebels of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam have been fighting since 1983 to divide Sri Lanka along ethnic lines. More than 64,000 people have died in the conflict.
The rebels announced the cease-fire Wednesday. Wickremesinghe’s government agreed to it Friday.
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