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Govt-LTTE move closer to talks agenda

by Ranga Jayasuriya

Norwegian facilitators preparing the agenda for formal talks between the government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) have sent both sides a questionnaire for the agenda, diplomatic sources told the Daily News.

The formal talks scheduled in Phuket, Thailand will focus on the interim administration. The questionnaire focuses on the formation and powers of the interim administration.

The facilitators have requested both parties to answer the questionnaire and return it soon, the sources said. No deadline has been specified for submitting the completed questionnaires. The agenda will be finalised based upon both parties' responses.

The government has announced that a date for talks will be fixed once a clear agenda is drawn up. The ban on the LTTE is expected to be lifted around 10 days before the commencement of the formal dialogue.

The government is to nominate a four-man team for the talks in Thailand, expected to be held in July or August. The Thailand Ambassador in Colombo has said that all arrangements have been finalised to hold the talks.

Government Spokesman Prof. G. L. Peiris has said that the government wants stability in the peace process and not undue haste.

"We are not unduly concerned about a slight delay in peace talks... What is important is not the date, but the foundation," Prof. Peiris said.

"We are not interested in speed for the sake of speed... We don't want to put the show on the road prematurely. We don't want to sacrifice system, order and method in order to expedite the process beyond a point," he added.

He has said there is a significant improvement in the peace process since the ceasefire agreement was signed by Prime Minister Wickremesinghe and LTTE Leader Velupillai Prabhakaran on February 22. The ceasefire is being monitored by the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM).

The government and the LTTE has held two face-to-face meetings since February 22. The Peace Secretariat's Bernard Gunathilaka represented the government on both occasions. The LTTE was represented by political wing leader S. P. Thamil Chelvam. They discussed a range of issues pertaining to the A9 road, A5 road and the evacuation of the Army from schools and churches by D+160. 

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