Colombo - Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels announced a Christmas ceasefire yesterday as the government moved to launch an internationally-backed peace process. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) said they would observe a unilateral truce for one month from Christmas Eve and hoped the government of Ranil Wickremesinghe would reciprocate.
"If the Sri Lankan government reciprocates positively and takes immediate steps to remove the economic embargo and other restrictions, the LTTE will favourably consider extending the period of ceasefire," it said. A government spokesman said they welcomed the LTTE's latest peace offer but stopped short of announcing a reciprocal ceasefire.