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All set for peace talks - Thai envoy

by Frances Bulathsinghala

Thai Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Jerm Tivayanond said yesterday that 'everything' was ready for the government-LTTE talks in Thailand including the location.

Addressing foreign correspondents at the Kelaniya Temple, Ambassador Jerm Tivayanond said that Thailand has been and is following the situation in Sri Lanka closely.

Referring to the time frame of the talks he said that it was likely to be in July or 'at the very latest', August.

"The opinion of Thailand is that it is unwise to delay too long," Ambassador Tivayanond said. It was not 'where' but 'what' was being discussed that was important, he said, when asked about the significance of Thailand being chosen as the venue.

It was pointed out that one of the reasons for the choice was in view of Thailand having very old Buddhist ties with Sri Lanka. Referring to the removal of the local ban on the LTTE, the Ambassador said he did not feel that the local proscription of the LTTE was an impediment to the peace talks.

Ven (Dr.). Kollupitiye Mahinda Sangharakkhita, the chief incumbent of the Kelaniya Buddhist Temple who also addressed the journalists said that the final approval for the solution to the long drawn ethnic conflict should come from the people and not from the Buddhist clergy.

He further opined that the Sri Lankan Buddhist clergy should think and act "first as citizens and then as monks".

Ambassador Tivayanond and Ven. Dr. Sangharakkitha were speaking at a discussion on Thailand - Sri Lankan Buddhist ties organised by the Foreign Correspondents Association. 

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