In an action replay of its exchange with the UN Special Representative a few months ago, the Sri Lankan government has refuted charges relating to incidents of child abduction in its presentation to the UN Security Council's Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict.
Lanka to UN Security Council: Child abduction allegations based on hearsay material, Sunday Times, February 11, 2007.
The Special Representative's report on Sri Lanka. Updates are available here.
The new UN Secretary-General's strong position against the recruitment of child soldiers is also being interpreted as carte-blanche for action against offenders like the LTTE. The Sri Lanka army website has clearly picked up this gauntlet.
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse says the door is still open for talks with Tamil Tigers, in an interview with the BBC.
Earlier, the President dismissed two senior ministers from his government; their security cover has also been withdrawn. They are Anura Bandaranaike and Mangala Samaraweera; Sripathi Sooriaratchchi also lost his job. This is likely to spawn new alliances, whether or not they last.
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