Sri Lanka and Tamil Tigers move towards peace

Sri Lanka and the Tamil Tiger rebels today agreed to establish a panel to resettle people displaced by almost 20 years of fighting and to work for a permanent peace.

The two sides were today wrapping up their first face-to-face talks in seven years.

The discussions in Thailand are seen as the best chance so far to end a war that has killed more than 64,500 people.

The joint committee “will consist of senior representatives of both sides, including military personnel,” the Norwegian government said.

Norway has sponsored the talks and a ceasefire agreement that has held since February.

“The parties affirmed their determination to continue upholding the ceasefire agreement and expanding the range of confidence building measures,” the Norwegian government said.

The announcement also confirmed three more sessions of talks over the next four months.

Chief government negotiator GL Peiris said late last night that he was “very pleased” with the progress of the negotiations.

Both sides stressed the need for reconstruction of war ravaged areas.

The chief Tiger negotiator, Anton Balasingham, has said his group expects to join the government as an equal partner in the country’s economic revival.

Balasingham is expected to go back to London after the talks and return to Sri Lanka in early October to consult with Tiger leader Vilupillai Prabhakaran.