The political crisis is Sri Lanka appears to be worsening, and in the latest government's call for a ceasefire with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam -- fighting a long and bloody battle for the independence of the island's minority Tamil-speaking population -- one can sense a state of near panic, given the kind of terrorism that is now spreading the world over.
The Tigers have yet to accept the offer, which the government says is the first step toward peace with the LTTE.
For the administration, this is a major climbdown.