New Peace Secretariat chief

President Mahinda Rajapakse has appointed John Gunarathne, a specialist on foreign affairs as the Chief of the Peace Secretariat to ensure the handling of the process more efficiently.

Gunaratne, Sri Lanka's Ambassador in Iraq from 1989 to 1992, has also served as the envoy to Jordan and Turkey. He has contributed articles on terrorism to newspapers and journals around the world. Gunaratne also served as an advisor to the Government during earlier peace talks.

The President has appointed Jayantha Dhanapala, former head of the Peace Secretariat as Senior Advisor on future developments of the peace process.