GOSL-LTTE leaders brief diplomats in Colombo

[TamilNet, Thursday, 23 January 2003, 19:16 GMT]
Representatives of the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) met in Colombo at a well-guarded five star hotel for the first time in twelve years Thursday morning, and briefed the international donor countries on the immediate humanitarian needs.

Senior diplomats from more than twenty countries and representatives of the UN, the European Union and the World Bank attended the briefing, which is considered a prelude to the proposed aid summit scheduled to be held in June in Tokyo, Japan, sources said.

Mr.Bernard Gunatilake, Secretary General of the Peace Secretariat on behalf of the GOSL, and Dr.Jay Maheswaran on behalf of the Liberation Tigers participated at the briefing, which has been described as a session of the Sub Committee on Immediate Humanitarian and Rehabilitation Needs in the northeast province (SIHRN), sources said. Dr.Jay Maheswaran arrived in Colombo to attend the briefing by road from the Vanni, Colombo sources said.

SIHRN has been established as agreed at the second round of peace talks between the GOSL and LTTE held at Thailand in November last year, the sources said.

Colombo sources further said representatives of international non-governmental agencies are also scheduled to meet the representatives of the LTTE shortly in Colombo.