finally moving forward with the long stalled peace talks. 

  The LTTE admitted that it has been hurt badly by the December 26 tidal waves, and openly asked the government to speed up and increase the aid for the hundreds of coastal towns and villages devastated by high water. Some 40,000 people were killed, and hundreds of thousands left homeless and destitute. Over a decade of civil war has left the rebel controlled areas impoverished, and many