October 27, 2003	Monday	Sha’aban 30, 1424

COLOMBO, Oct 26: Sri Lanka’s President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga has directed armed forces commanders that they need not take instructions or advice from the head of a Scandinavian team monitoring a cease-fire agreement under a Norwegian-backed peace process, a local newspaper said on Sunday.

President Kumaratunga, who has called for the removal of the head of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM), retired Norwegian Major General Tryggve Tellefsen, has given written instructions to the commanders of the army, navy and air force, The Sunday Times newspaper reported.

The president on Thursday called the Norwegian government to replace the monitoring mission chief after the navy accused the monitors of leaking information about a proposed operation to detect an arms shipment by rebels off the north eastern coast of the country.

The navy claimed that the information had been leaked after the monitors were informed about the proposed operation and wanted one of their members to accompany them.

The member of the monitoring mission in turn had cross-checked with the rebels about the presence of a ship in the particular location given by the navy, eventually forcing the navy to call off their proposed operation.

President Kumaratunga represents the main opposition party in the country but holds executive powers and is the Commander in Chief for the armed forces.

The monitors have not so far officially reacted to the incident or the call for the chief monitor to be removed.

President Kumaratunga has written to the Norwegian Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik calling on him to remove the chief monitor with immediate effect.—dpa