Colombo - A shake-up of Sri Lanka's field commanders and new weapons have boosted morale and reversed the "withdrawal syndrome" of 30,000 troops defending the key town of Jaffna, a senior minister said yesterday. The Energy Minister, Mr Anuruddha Ratwatte, admitted that soldiers in the northern peninsula of Jaffna had been trying to withdraw in the face of heavy Tamil rebel attacks until he flew there on May 18th.
The Catholic Church urged all parties involved in the civil war to accelerate peace talks and find a negotiated settlement.