Balasinghams arrive in Vanni

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 15 October 2002, 09:56 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers’ chief negotiator and political advisor, Mr.Anton Balasingham, and his wife, Adele, arrived in Vanni around 10.15 a.m. Tuesday, LTTE sources in Kilinochchi said. Mr. Balasingham arrived by a Sri Lanka Air Force helicopter from Colombo.

Mr. and Mrs Balasingham left London Monday and arrived at Colombo International airport at Katunayake by Sri Lankan airlines flight UL 512 at 9.10 am and left for Vanni in a SLAF helicopter around 9.35 am, government officials said. Sources said they were received by Norwegian officials at the airport.

The SLAF helicopter landed at the Malathy grounds at Puthukudiyirrupu in Mullaithivu. They were received by Mr. S. P. Thamilselvan, the head of the LTTE's political wing, Col. Soosai, Special commander of the Sea Tigers and Mr. Nadesan, the chief of the Tamil Eelam Police Force, sources in Kilinochchi said.

Mr. Balasingham's visits comes two weeks ahead of the second round of direct talks in Thailand between the LTTE and the Sri Lanka Government.

The Liberation Tigers’ chief negotiator and political advisor, Mr.Anton Balasingham, and his wife, Adele talking to senior LTTE leaders in the northern Vanni, 15 October 2002.