Colombo:
The Sri Lankan army's big guns fell silent on Monday and they may also not use the air force against the Tamil rebels as a result of Monday's announcement. However, it effectively allows them the use of smaller guns to take on the LTTE fighters.
But hours after they called the LTTE's offer of a ceasefire a joke, why the turnaround?
As the drama unfolded in Lanka, the reverberations were being felt in India, and that too bang in the middle of an election. India had led the chorus of international voices urging the Sri Lanka government to halt its fire amidst a growing humanitarian crisis.
Speaking to NDTV, Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee had admitted that New Delhi has been in touch with top most Lankan leaders.
"We have sent a message, that message has been conveyed to the President. We are awaiting the response and I must give some time for them to consider that and as and when the response will be received, we will determine our future course of action. But I cannot say anything, what would be the future course of action," Pranab said.
The Sri Lankan government may have halted heavy combat operations under tremendous international and Indian pressure, it is in no mood to call off its anti-LTTE operations designed to capture or neutralise Prabhakaran and other top leaders of the Tamil Tigers.
But hours after they called the LTTE's offer of a ceasefire a joke, why the turnaround?
As the drama unfolded in Lanka, the reverberations were being felt in India, and that too bang in the middle of an election. India had led the chorus of international voices urging the Sri Lanka government to halt its fire amidst a growing humanitarian crisis.
Speaking to NDTV, Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee had admitted that New Delhi has been in touch with top most Lankan leaders.
"We have sent a message, that message has been conveyed to the President. We are awaiting the response and I must give some time for them to consider that and as and when the response will be received, we will determine our future course of action. But I cannot say anything, what would be the future course of action," Pranab said.
The Sri Lankan government may have halted heavy combat operations under tremendous international and Indian pressure, it is in no mood to call off its anti-LTTE operations designed to capture or neutralise Prabhakaran and other top leaders of the Tamil Tigers.
