To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support her Department is giving to the Sri Lankan Monitoring Mission. (80618)

Under the terms of the Cease-Fire Agreement the Sri Lankan Monitoring Mission (SLMM) was established to monitor the cease-fire and investigate and record violations by either side. It has done so since 2002. We continue to support fully the important work of the SLMM as ceasefire monitors and the Norwegian Government as facilitators of the peace process. In relation to the SLMM, we completely endorse the view that its members are appointed as ceasefire monitors and not as representatives of their countries.

We welcome the recent statements of commitment by the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to the Ceasefire Agreement. In that respect we urge all parties to the ceasefire to co-operate with the SLMM and urge the LTTE and the Government to return to face-to face talks so they can discuss concerns about the cease-fire and work towards a lasting peace agreement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will assess the implications for the Sri Lankan peace process in light of the recent increase in violence in the country. (80619)

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Kingston and Surbiton (Mr. Davey) on 26 June 2006, Official Report, columns 183-184W.