LTTE’s chief negotiator Anton Balasingham had apologized to government negotiator Minister Milinda Moragoda over the telephone for incorrect statements made by LTTE members about the Minister.

Balasingham had attributed this to wrong translation by the LTTE translator. Minister Moragoda had said that this kind of mistake should not happen again. Balasingham had described Minister Moragoda as a mainstay in the peace process and appealed to him to continue in participating in talks.

However Balasingham is scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka next week. Minister Moragoda and Anton Balasingham had tentatively agreed to meet in the Wanni and discuss matters further.

Minister Milinda Moragoda on Monday made a surprise announcement that he will not participate in the peace talks for the time being due to the comments made by the LTTE political wing leader Thamilselvan. Thamilselvan in a press interview has claimed that Minister Moragoda said that he would arrange for the LTTE to participate in the Washington meeting.

Minister Moragoda announcing that he would not participate in the talks for the time being flatly denied that he made a statement of that nature and the Norwegians who were present during that discussion would vouch for what he said.