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No special Muslim delegation at talks

Ports Development and Shipping Minister Rauff Hakeem is now in Thailand as a member of the government delegation for the fourth session of peace talks being held in Nakon Pathom, Thailand, government sources said. He will form part of the government team which include Prof. G.L. Peiris, Minister Milinda Moragoda and Peace Secretariat Director General Bernard Goonetilleke.

Prior to his departure, Hakeem had met Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe at Temple Trees and had discussions on the peace talks with the Premier and Ministers Moragoda and Prof. Peiris.

Hakeem is scheduled to meet Canadian expert on Federalism Ian Martin who will be present in Nakon Pathom, subsequent to the official talks.

Minister Hakeem is participating in the talks as a government delegate and not as a separate Muslim representative, Chief Government Negotiator Prof. G.L. Peiris told the Daily News in Nakorn Pathom. "At a later stage in the talks we hope to include delegations that will deal with the issues pertaining to Muslims of the East as well as the Sinhalese of the East but that has not yet been reached," Prof Peiris said. A government statement said the talks will be a continuation of the previous meetings held in Thailand and Norway and will discuss matters discussed during these talks.

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