Brussels, 21/03/2006 (Agence Europe) - On 20 March the European Commissioner for External Relations, Benita Ferrero-Waldner met with the Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka, Mangala Samaraweera, visiting Brussels for the first time since he took up his post in November last year. Discussions focused on continuing the peace process and maintaining the cease-fire since the agreement made in February between the government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam - LTTE). The parties came together in Switzerland on the initiative of the co-presidents of the Conference of Tokyo (EU, Norway and the USA) on 22-23 February to reaffirm their desire to fully cooperate with the rules of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM). In a press statement the Commissioner declared, “I see an opportunity for real progress which should not be missed. The test is now to ensure that commitments are implemented on the ground so as to build confidence and a conducive environment leading up to the next round of talks scheduled for April and beyond” (from 19 to 21 April in Geneva and beyond: Editor's note).