UNF government briefs Chandrika on Thailand peace talks

[TamilNet, Friday, 15 November 2002, 21:37 GMT]
A senior minister in the United National Front government Friday briefed President Ms Chandrika Kumaratunge on the outcome of the second session of the first round of Thailand peace talks. The Presidential Secretariat later confirmed the meeting between President and Minister Milinda Morogoda through a media release.

The Presidential Secretariat said in the release that President Chandrika raised certain concerns about the future course of peace talks. She has requested the UNF government through Minister Milinda Morogoda to widen the scope of consultation with the LTTE. It has been agreed to hold further discussion on the peace process, the statement added.

The Minister told the President that the Prime Minister would meet and brief her on the outcome of Oslo aid talks on his (PM) return.

Meanwhile President Kumaratunge's international advisor and former Foreign Minister Mr.Lakshman Kadirgamar Friday accused Norway that it is not playing its part as an impartial facilitator. He said so when addressing a press briefing Friday. Mr. Kadirgamar said the LTTE is reaping more benefits from the UNF government utilizing the peace talks now being held.

He charged the UNF government for not adequately briefing the President of the country on the outcome of the peace talks with the LTTE. Representatives of the allied parties of the main opposition Peoples Alliance were not present at the press conference. Only Sri Lanka Freedom Party leaders attended.

In the meantime President Chandrika Kumaratunge Friday addressing the graduation ceremony of the Sir John Kotelawala Defense Academy said "even though there is no war in the country at present, it is a period between war and peace". During this period more welfare benefits should be provided to the members of state armed forces, said President Chandrika

President Chandrika made a special appeal to the members of the armed force to be alert in safeguarding the territorial integrity of the country ,especially in areas where ethnic tension prevails.

The Defence Minister Mr.Tilak Marapone and chiefs of three State armed services attended the event held at Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall.