31 December 2005 Civil war fears deepen in Sri Lanka
Fears that a civil war may break out in Sri Lanka have deepened after suspected Tamil Tigers shot and injured five policeman in the east of the island on Friday.
A Norwegian peace envoy is set to visit the island to hold talks with government forces and the Tamil Tigers amid the growing crisis.
"It is urgent to get the two parties to sit down together to discuss how to ensure that the cease-fire agreement is observed and how the peace process can be advanced," said Erik Solheim, Norway's minister of international development.
Reuters reports that troops are currently checking roadside areas in military-held areas in the north and the east for mines similar to those which have killed 39 armed forces personnel in ambushes in the past month.
It is thought that the violence has escalated due to the election of hardline president Mahinda Rajapakse last month.
Analysts argue that the attacks are proof that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam are ready for war and that the past four years truce have been used strategically to regroup.
Archive Travel Insurance News Stories
Related Travel Insurance News
26 March 2008 Women 'confident' to travel alone
Women have become more confident to travel to traditional and emerging... [more]
26 March 2008 Paris and Bruges 'are emerging destinations for city breaks'
Paris and Bruges have been named as emerging destinations for city breaks in... [more]
26 March 2008 Princess takes birthday trip to traditional ski resort
Princess Eugenie, daughter of Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, and the Duke of... [more]
26 March 2008 Snow falls across Europe
Snow has been falling across Europe in the past week, leaving many traditional... [more]
Get a travel insurance quote today from Travel Insurance Web, comprehensive cover at an amazingly low price.
