Negotiators depart for Thailand Peace Talks

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 29 October 2002, 11:12 GMT]
Representatives of the Sri Lankan Government, Director of Peace Secretariat Bernard Gunatillake, Major General Shantha Kotegoda, John Gunaratne and Janaka Jeyasekara of the Peace Secrtariat, departed Katunayake airport today, 29 October morning to participate in the second round of peace talks with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to be held on the 31st in the city of Nakhon Pathom, 35 miles west of Bangkok, sources said.

The other members of the Government contingent, Professor G.L. Peiris, Melinda Moragoda and Rauff Hakim are expected to travel today evening.

Representing Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, Chief political advisor Dr. Anton Balasingham, Adele Balasingham, Head of the Political section of the LTTE, S.P. Thamilchelvan and Colonel Karuna will also depart this evening in the same flight, sources said. Norwegian government is making the necessary travel arrangements. Visuwanathan Rudrakumaran and Dr. Jay Maheswaran will also be joining the team as advisors.

Sources note that Major General Shantha Kotegoda and Colonel Karuna lead the Government and the LTTE in the Jayasukurui battle where the Sri Lankan Government attempted to capture the A9 through the LTTE's Vanni heartland. The Government forces were defeated at the end and forced to withdraw in fifteen days from the areas captured after battles lasting for more than eighteen months.