The European Union has slammed the Tamil rebels as a "terrorist organisation" and this has put the militants on an awkward situation since it could earlier function in different European countries for the causes of the rebels including raising funds, but will not be permitted any more. Certainly, this has come as a setback for the militants, who resented the decision, saying this will only aggravate the Lankan crisis. However, fact remains that the development will definitely put greater pressure on the militants, who are showing increasing signs of violence in recent days. The donors have also threatened to cut off assistances to Sri Lanka unless the government and the rebels work for peace. They made it clear that two sides are engaged in an unwinnable war which can never be decisive for either side, but the country is being pushed to nowhere with development works coming to a virtual naught. This decision too has put the government on the dock in a way because aid is important for the country. The Sri Lanka scene has nose-dived to an extent that scattered hostilities have flared up between the Tamil militants and government troops leading many to believe that the fragile ceasefire has virtually broken down and the nation is reverting to civil war.

This was least expected because the resumption of the dialogue in Geneva in February after a long gap and assiduously made ground work had gone off quite well in the given difficult conditions resulting in a discernible change for the better towards settlement of the complex civil war. The next round of talks was scheduled in April 24,but this has not taken place much to the dismay of those who want to see lessening of the trouble and resolution of the government -Tamil crisis. But the sharp worsening in their ties led to the postponement of the dialogue, which now hangs in the balance. International community, particularly Norway, which has been brokering peace between the two contending sides for long, also seems crestfallen.

Certainly, sharp deterioration in the government rebels relations is discernible. The gravity of the situation can be gauged from the fact that several major incidents have taken place in recent days highlighted by the air strikes on rebel strongholds in the north-east of the country and from the militants' side, daring attempt on the life of the chief of country's army by a woman suicider that left ten troops killed and many injured including the army chief himself. All these mark toughening of the stance by both parties witnessed only before a ceasefire was agreed upon in 2002.Even as president Mahinda Rajapakse and the Tamil rebel supremo Villupai Prabhakaran are speaking about the need of peace, both make no secrets that the policy and attitude of the "other side" may force full fledged war. The truce for last more than four years has become increasingly vulnerable. Two months ago in Geneva, two sides sat across the table and agreed to honour the cessation of hostilities. Now the pledge seems to have little meaning as war fears stalk the nation. This was not expected.

The talks in Geneva did not cover the nitty gritty complexities of the civil war and a possible settlement since two sides rightly devoted time on maintaining the truce that had appeared on the verge of a collapse. Indeed, salvaging this situation was not an easy task. Such contentious issues like the extent of power in the autonomy for the rebels and a timeframe for a settlement as earlier demanded by Tamil militants did not figure prominently. Discussions on these vexed issues would have in probability landed them in difficult situation at that stage. This realisation had dawned on both sides and substantive issues would be taken up in the next round of talks. Now as the future talks are not in sight and sound of violence is making bigger noise, the whole scenario has markedly changed. The possibility of a return of the full blown conflict is now making rounds in Sri Lanka.

Mediators are alarmed at this development, but have not abandoned their efforts They are clearly dismayed and trying to contain the sharp slide. Two sides need to demonstrate patience and realism since the crisis warrants restraint, more for the reason that no sides can decisively win the conflict easily as proved before. At least the ceasefire must be observed by both sides should they want progress. In any case, return to hostilities is unlikely to take them anywhere. This seems to be the reality of the more than two decades long civil war.

Some dangerous attacks in the sea and water by the rebels in the last few weeks prompted the EU to declare the militants as "terrorist" outfit while the forum is not also happy with the government for violation of the truce. United States, Japan and other donors are of the view that all assistance will go awry if the county is not peaceful. Hence, they are talking about halting aid to Sri Lanka. A peace envoy from Japan some time ago visited the country and warned that both sides have to choose between war and peace for their nation. Evidently, the government and the militants are under increasing pressure for reconciliation -- at least not resorting to violence. It is possible that the international pressure may force both sides to return to negotiating table. The government has already said that the tagging by the EU on the militants as a "terrorist" organisation will not prevent the government from talking to the rebels on peace efforts. The militants too are showing some signs of restraint even though they severely criticised the EU decision. They have indicated that rebels may travel to Oslo on June 8 for talks with Norwegian government in a bid to break the stalemate over peace efforts. Oslo is mediating painstakingly for resumption of the stalled dialogue between the Lankan authority and rebels. Sri Lanka's worsening tangle can still be salvaged if both sides demonstrate some wisdom and farsight.

Zaglul Ahmed Chowdhury is Foreign Editor of BSS.