International
Colombo distances itself from LTTE plan
By Nirupama Subramanian
COLOMBO, JAN. 10. A team from Oslo arrived here for discussions with the Government on the peace process, as Sri Lanka today publicly distanced itself from an LTTE proposal to hold peace talks in India, dismissing newspaper reports on the issue as ``speculative'' and saying it was too early in the process to start thinking of a venue.
``There has been a great deal of speculation in the press over the last two days, both here and in India, as to the venue for the peace talks. The speculation is premature. We have not yet reached a stage where substantial issues are being contemplated,'' the Cabinet spokesman, G.L. Peiris, said today.
Mr. Peiris was reacting to reports that the LTTE wanted peace talks with the Sri Lankan Government to be held in South India, with the LTTE's Anton Balasingham based in Chennai.
The proposal is said to have been made to the Norwegian delegation that met Mr. Balasingham in London last week.
The senior Minister, who is a key figure in the peace process, said the thrust of the Norwegian-facilitated initiative was at the moment to consolidate the confidence-building measures already undertaken by the Government.
The Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister, Vidar Helgesen, arrived this morning with the Special Adviser to the Foreign Ministry, Erik Solheim, for discussions with the Sri Lankan Government on the peace process. The team was scheduled to meet the Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, the President, Chandrika Kumaratunga, other members of the Government and representatives of Tamil and Muslim parties.
Mr. Peiris said the purpose of the visit was ``an exchange of views'' between Norway and the Sri Lankan Government on the developments in the peace process, including the facilitation team's meeting with Mr. Balasingham in London.
``The visit of the Norwegians will administer a very strong stimulus to the incipient peace process,'' Mr. Peiris said at a news conference today.
He said Oslo would help convert the present truce being unilaterally observed by the Government and the LTTE into a mutual ceasefire.
On Wednesday, Mr. Wickremesinghe held a meeting with the three service chiefs to assess the ground situation after nearly three weeks of the truce.
The Government was ensuring that all arrangements were in place for the smooth implementation of the decision to allow unrestricted movement of essential supplies to LTTE-held areas, Mr. Peiris said.
Meanwhile, the leader of the Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP), Douglas Devananda, accused the LTTE of pursuing a ``hidden agenda'' in suggesting that the peace talks should be held in India.
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