Sri Lankan politician and one of the leaders of the United National Party , Dr Jayalath Jayawardana MP, has arrived in the Swiss capital in a last ditch attempt to prevent the fall of Tamil Tiger bastion - Kilinochchi to the rapidly advancing Sri Lankan security forces. Reportedly, Dr Jayawardana, immediately on arrival in Geneva, met the head of Swiss Tamil Forum, which is a front organization of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

Dr Jayawardane sought appointments with several top executives of the United Nations institutions in Geneva, reliable sources said.

He met senior officials of several International Non Governmental Organization (INGO) Headquarters based in Geneva and appealed to them to mobilize the international community to call for an immediate ceasefire in Sri Lanka, the sources said.

The sources added that Dr Jayawardana is scheduled to fly to Rome from Geneva to call on Pope Benedict in order to influence the Vatican to issue an urgent appeal to stop the ongoing military operations in Sri Lanka.

Mr K Sivajilingham, MP representing Tamil National Alliance was also in Geneva to meet UN officials and INGO heads on behalf of the LTTE to call on the international community to bring about a ceasefire in Sri Lanka to prevent the fall of Kilinochchi.

Sri Lankan community in Switzerland expressed disgust at the attempts made by Dr Jayawardana. "I can understand TNA MP Sivajilingham who is a proxy of the LTTE appealing on behalf of the terrorist organization," a leading member of the community said. "But, how can a UNP member like Jayawardana who represents a Sinhala majority constituency could act in this partisan manner trying to safeguard the top hierarchy of a terrorist organization that has caused immense damaged to the country and the society?" he lamented.

Sri Lankan community is highly perturbed over the mission of Dr Jayawardana on behalf of the LTTE at a time when the terrorist movement is losing its centre of power. "All Sri Lankans should accept the fact that regaining government control over the north will be the best thing for the country and the people. East is an example. People in the East – Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim – are now enjoying democratic rights and the province is witnessing speedy development in all fronts. Similarly, once the military task is over, the North also will be developed and it will benefit the Tamils of the north. And at a time like this what is Dr Jayawardana's mandate?" an analyst said.

"Is it Dr Jayawardana's strategy or is he acting for the UNP? That is a question, the UNP leadership will have to answer".