A United Nations move for a pause in the fighting in the northern Wanni battle zone -- a prelude to a sea-based evacuation operation of trapped civilians – has met with stiff opposition from the Government.
The Government’s talks with commercial banks over the US$ 800 million (Rs. 92 billion) oil-hedging dispute have collapsed and the issue will be decided by international arbitration, Minister Sarath Amunugama said yesterday.
