Discussions with LTTE ‘cordial and constructive’ - PM’s office

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 22 May 2002, 19:30 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Prime Minister’s office said Wednesday that the discussions on Tuesday between officials from the Peace Secretariat and the Liberation Tigers were constructive and held in a cordial atmosphere.

The discussions between the head of the LTTE’s Political Section, Mr. S. P. Thamilchelvan, and the government team led by Mr. Bernard Goonatilake, Director General of the Peace Secretariat centred on issues relating to the operation of A9 Kandy-Jaffna route, repairs to the road with Asian Development Bank (ADB) funds, political activities of LTTE cadres and the freeing of places of worships, public buildings and schools now occupied by the Sri Lanka Army and police, according to a press release issued by the Prime Minister's office Wednesday.

Mr. Thamilchelvan had said during the discussion that the results of the local government elections held Monday were a demonstration of the support of the people in the south for the peace process.

Mr. Goonatilake had assured LTTE officials during the discussion that the government would continue to do its utmost to achieve lasting peace. Mr. Thamilchelvan had reciprocated by assuring the government of the LTTE’s continued support for the peace process, the press release from the PM's office further stated.

The government team was accompanied by Norwegian diplomat Mr. Thomas Strangeland and was flown to the LTTE’s political headquarters at Killinochchi Tuesday morning by a Sri Lanka Air Force helicopter.