Landmark peace initiatve in Lanka

The Sri Lankan government and the main opposition on Thursday decided to hold British-brokered peace talks with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, sources said.

The government of President Chandrika Kumaratunga and the main Opposition United National Party, whose rivalry has contributed to the conflict, agreed to bury the hatchet under British persuasion, they said.

Official sources said that now the two main Sinhala political parties have agreed to talks, an early ceasefire was likely. However, there was no indication when the truce would come about and when peace talks would actually resume.

The two sides agreed to co-operate after the British under Secretary for Commonwealth and Foreign Affairs Dr Liam Fox met Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar and UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe during an unannounced visit to Colombo on Wednesday.

British Foreign Secretary Malcom Rifkind had announced Britain’s willingness to mediate for a negotiated settlement of the ethnic conflict. Soon after, in February, Fox made his first visit to Colombo.

The sources said Wickremesinghe had already got clearance from the UNP executive committee to go ahead with the peace initiative. UNP sources said that under the agreement, the government would keep the Opposition leader informed about the progress of the talks and also seek his opinion on issues considered during the talks.