Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, March 21, 2002
Sri Lankan Govt Considers Venue for Peace Talks
The Sri Lankan government is considering a venue for preliminary talks with separatist Tamil Tiger rebels on the proposed peace negotiations, the state-run Daily News said on Thursday.
The Sri Lankan government is considering a venue for preliminary talks with separatist Tamil Tiger rebels on the proposed peace negotiations, the state-run Daily News said on Thursday.
Foreign Minister Tyronne Fernando was quoted by the paper as saying on Wednesday that the government is now in the process of negotiating a possible venue, but he declined to name the venue.
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels have suggested Thailand as the venue following the reluctance by India to accommodate the talks due to strong protest by political parties.
Meanwhile, chief negotiator of LTTE, Anton Balasingham, is expected to return to Sri Lanka from London via the Maldives on March 25 for talks with rebel leader Velupillai Prabhakaran.
The government and LTTE rebels signed an indefinite ceasefire agreement last month which has paved way for direct talks between the two sides in seven years.