The Norwegian facilitated Sri Lankan peace process faces a critical test after the Tokyo Donors’ conference. After six round of talks, followed by LTTE's exclusion from the Washington Seminar (April 14) and its boycott of the Tokyo Donors’ conference (9-10 June 2003), the question arises now how the peace talks would move forward. The LTTE has clearly stated that unless the Sri Lankan Government comes up with a concrete proposal to match its demand for an interim administration, it would be difficult to participate in the peace process. In its statement (11 June 2003) the LTTE stated that the Colombo government, with the active assistance of the facilitator and its international 'tactical allies,' has formulated a strategic paper  (Tokyo Declaration) to superimpose its own agenda on the LTTE which is unacceptable. The Tokyo Declaration (10 June 2003), while linking international aid with progress in the peace process, talked of effective protection of human rights, progress towards a settlement based on the Oslo Declaration (internal self-determination within a united Sri Lanka) and agreement by the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE on a phased, balanced, and verifiable de-escalation, de-militarization and normalization process at an appropriate time to arrive at a political settlement. 

One of the fallouts of the LTTE's temporary withdrawal from the Peace Process is that it is articulating the need for direct talks between it and the Sri Lankan Government and is distrustful of the international community (read US, India, Japan etc). It believes that powerful players like the United States and India are denying the LTTE its due role as representatives of Sri Lankan Tamils. The LTTE claims that the increasing involvement of international players exerts pressure on the freedom of choice of the Tamil people to determine their own future. The US has more than once indicated that it can see a legitimate political role for the LTTE, provided it renounces terrorism and violence and gives up the idea of a separate state, a point reiterated by Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage in his address to the Tokyo Donors’ conference.  The LTTE's Chief Negotiator has refused to meet Japan's Special Envoy for the Peace Process, Yashushi Akashi, after the Tokyo Donors’ conference. It believes that Japan is using its economic muscle and that it would not bow to such pressures.

India's refusal to provide a venue to host the peace talks and its rejection of of LTTE's request to provide transit facilities to its Chief Negotiator, Anton Balasingham, is cause for LTTE's ire. It has been also been upset with the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka over the donation of books to Jaffna library and the presence of Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) President, Anandasangaree, at the book donation function held on 24 March 2003 at the Indian Cultural Centre, Colombo. In fact, the opening of the Jaffna library (renovated now after being burnt down in 1983) was postponed due to pressure from the LTTE. It has strongly conveyed to members of the TULF that its President should be stripped of his post after the latter stated that the LTTE cannot claim to be the sole representative of the Tamils.  LTTE believes that India is propping up political groups like Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP) and Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front (Perumal group). After the recent killing of Subathiran a.k.a Robert, leader of EPRLF (Perumal faction) in Jaffna on June 14, sections close to the LTTE claimed that the murder took place because he was an Indian agent.

That the LTTE is not pleased with the Norwegians either is clear from its statement after the Tokyo Declaration. Moreover, considering the cohabitation problems between President Chandrika Kumaraunga and the United National Front Government headed by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe and criticism by the Presidents' Party, the People Alliance that the Norwegians have evolved into mediators from being facilitators has only made things difficult for the Norwegians. Of course, President Chandrika Kumaratunga and her party keep mentioning that it is they who invited the Norwegians for being facilitators in the Peace Process.

The LTTE leadership after declaring that the six rounds of peace talks were a waste of time have argued that talks would have to start on a new, redefined agenda. While contacts have been revived with the Norwegian facilitators, a forward movement in the peace process would only occur if the Government agrees on some form of Interim Administration and the role of facilitators/international community is reduced. If the Sri Lankan Government makes direct overtures to the LTTE, bypassing the facilitators, President Chandrika Kumartunga would make things hot for them.