Busy schedule awaits Balasingham in Kilinochchi

[TamilNet, Sunday, 02 March 2003, 19:34 GMT]
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) theoretician and leader of the LTTE negotiating team in the current peace talks between the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) and the LTTE, Mr. Anton Balasingham, arrived in Kilinochchi 4 pm Sunday with his wife and Secretary to LTTE peace delegation Adele Balasingham, sources in Vanni said.

Special military helicopter of the Sri Lanka Airforce brought them to the Kilinochchi Central grounds. Head of LTTE’s political section, S.P.Thamilselvan, his deputy S. Thangan, Head of LTTE finance, Thamilenthi, Head of Thamileelam Police, P. Nadesan, Special commander of LTTE Women’s Malathy Brigade, Colonel Vithusha, Head of LTTE’s Justice section, Para, Head of LTTE Women’s Political section, Thamilini, Administrative head of Eelanaatham, Pava, Head of Tamils Rehabilitation Organization, K.P.Regi, Administrative head of Voice of Tigers (VoT) radio, Thamilanpan, Head of LTTE’s medical section, Regan, Administrative head of Maveerar families’ welfare organization, Thirukumaran and several other LTTE officials were present at the Kilinochchi grounds to receive Balasingham and Adele, LTTE sources said.

Anton Balasingham met with LTTE leader V. Pirapaharan at an undisclosed location in Mullaitivu region soon after his arrival . Discussions focussed on the current political situation in the island, the progress of peace talks and matters related to the up coming round of peace talks in Japan, sources close to the LTTE said.

Mr. Balasingham, who is expected to stay in Vanni for two weeks till the next round peace talks in Japan on March 18, is scheduled to meet Tryggve Tellefsen, the new head of Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) and outgoing head General (retd) Trond Furuhovde this Wednesday, March 5, according to Vanni sources.

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) members are expected to meet Mr. Balasingham on Friday, March 7, sources said.

A meeting has also been arranged between Mr. Balasingham, LTTE officials and Government of Norway’s Foreign Minister, Mr. Jan Petersen, on Friday, March 14, sources added.

Meanwhile, Special Japanese envoy to Sri Lanka, Mr. Yasusi Akashi, and diplomats from Japan and Norway are also expected to meet Mr. Anton Balasingham and LTTE leader Velupillai Pirapaharan within the next two weeks, sources said.