Sri Lanka and Tamil Tiger rebels agreed today to a formal ceasefire to pave the way for direct peace talks to end the protracted ethnic war on the island nation.
"It is not the signing but the handing over that ratifies the agreement," Prime Minister Mr Ranil Wickremesinghe said at a news conference in Omanthai, the crossing point into rebel-held territory.
He was speaking shortly before handing over a document agreeing to the truce to Norway's ambassador to Sri Lanka Mr Jon Westborg.
Mr Westborg confirmed that a signed document on the ceasefire had also been received from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, who have fought for nearly two decades for a separate Tamil state.