A visit by U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan to view tsunami damage in Sri Lanka caused controversy because the government restricted his travel.
S.P. Thamilselvan, head of the Tamil Tigers' political wing, said the government's ban of Annan's planned tour of rebel-held tsunami-hit areas may have negative consequences for peace, the BBC reports.
Annan said he hopes to return "some day" to visit the parts of the of the island he missed.
"I'm hoping to come back and be able to visit all areas of the country, not only those repaired, but also to celebrate peace," Annan said at the end of his 48-hour trip to Sri Lanka where 30,000 died as a result of the Dec. 26 tsunami.
"It's a difficult situation but I think if the whole nation comes together and works on the relief stage as well as reconstruction, it will instill enough confidence in each other to work on a peace process."
© Copyright 2005 by United Press International
