Govt-TNA talks recommence

A government delegation comprising Ministers Nimal Siripala de Silva, Prof G L Peiris and MPs Prof Rajiva Wijesinha and Sajin de Vass Gunawardena (secretary to the committee) had several rounds of talks with representatives of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) led by R Sampanthan and comprising Mavai Senathirajah, Suresh Premachandran, M A Sumanthiran and K Kanag-Isvaran, President's Counsel, from January to August this year to find a political settlement and to address the urgent humanitarian concerns.

These discussions recommenced yesterday after a meeting the President had with R Sampanthan on September 2.

It was agreed at this meeting that the talks could continue on the basis of the Discussion Paper submitted by the TNA on March 18, 2011 along with earlier proposals, statements and reports for constitutional reforms made public so as to agree on the principles that should form the basis of a political settlement to arrive at acceptable constitutional arrangements soon.