Thamil Chelvan, Bishops discuss peace prospects

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 April 2001, 19:03 GMT]
The leader of the political wing of the Liberation Tigers, Mr.S.P Thamil Chelvan Wednesday welcomed the delegation of Sri Lanka's catholic Bishops who are on a peace mission in the Vanni Wednesday, church sources said. Mr. Thamil Chelvan met the bishops for two hours in Mallavi, they added. The Catholic Bishops are on a mission to the Vanni to discuss prospects for bringing about a peaceful settlement to Sri Lankaís ethnic conflict.

The bishops held a consultation with Tamil parties on Monday before leaving the capital. The bishops who left Vavuniya yesterday visited the Thadchanamaruthamadu open refugee camp near the Madhu church.

The area is not under the control of the Sri Lanka army. There are more than 16 thousand Tamil refugees in Madhu and Palampiddy.

Church sources said that the Bishops may have another round of discussions with LTTE leaders tomorrow as well.