SL govt. expects LTTE response to IA proposal within 14 days

[TamilNet, Thursday, 11 September 2003, 16:42 GMT]
The Sri Lankan government expects to receive the Liberation Tigers' response to its interim administration proposals in two weeks and would ask the Norwegian facilitators to take steps to recommence peace talks with the LTTE once it received the response, said Cabinet spokesman, Minister Mr.Peiris, at a press briefing Thursday.

"The LTTE is currently engaged in an in-depth study of the federal system in Bern, Switzerland. LTTE has amply demonstrated the willingness of the organization to arrive at a political solution based upon a federal system. The intention of the LTTE is to further discuss the federal system with the government following the recommencement of peace talks," said Mr.Peiris.

Mr.Peiris further said that the Indian Foreign Minister, Mr.Yaswanth Sinha, would visit Sri Lanka during the middle part of October. The Canadian Foreign Minister, Mr. Bill Graham, is scheduled to begin his Sri Lanka tour on October 14.

The visiting Japanese special peace envoy, Mr.Yasushi Akashi, would be meeting the Prime Minister Mr.Ranil Wickremasinghe Thursday night to discuss ways to resume the stalled peace process between the government and the LTTE, added Minister Peris.