Sri Lanka asks Thailand to keep eyes on Tamil Tigers

Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama made the request when he met Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya on Thursday.

Bogollagama told Kasit during the meeting that his government is about to settle conflicts with the rebellion Tigers but wanted Thailand to monitor their movement, said deputy spokesman Thani Thongpakdi.

The Sri Lankan minister did not give specific targets for the surveillance but Thailand is pleased to help, he said.

The Tiger rebels have been fighting since 1983 for an independent state for the Tamil minority. Thai authorities founded the group has shipped weapons supply from Phuket for their fighting.

            Beside the Tigers issue, the two ministers also discussed plan to have a new meeting of the joint commission of which the last one was held in 2003 due to political difficulties in both countries, Thani said.

            Sri Lanka wanted to have cooperation with Thailand in many sectors notably economic, he said. Colombo has housing constructions projects which needed Thai skill, he said.