(by Dilrukshi Handunnetti)

Government has named a four-member team for preliminary talks with the LTTE in Thailand.

The team for the talks expected to begin in early May will comprise Minister’s G.L.Peiris and Milinda Moragoda along with Peace Secretariat Chief Bernard Gunathilleke and Sri Lanka’s Bangkok Ambassador, S. Palihakkara.

The LTTE team headed by chief negotiator Anton Balasingham is expected to include political wing leader, S.P.Thamil Chelvam.

Thailand on Friday agreed to host the talks between the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE, following a formal request from Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister Vidar Helgessen who visited Thailand on Friday.

Mr. Helgessen held extensive discussions with his Thai counterpart Surakiarat Sathirathai.

Sources said Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe or LTTE supreme Velupillai Prabhakaran were not likely to take party in the early stages of the talks.

Mr. Helgessen is expected in Sri Lanka soon after the National New Year to finalise dates for the talks.

Foreign Minister Tyronne Fernando, responding to the various reports on Thailand’s involvement in the peace initiative said that Southeast Asian country’s role in the entire process would be confined to the role of ‘host country’ and would have no other involvement.

In this backdrop, the government has also moved to upgrade the mission in Oslo by appointing an Ambassador in view of Norway’s involvement in the Sri Lankan peace process.

Meanwhile a Foreign Ministry official said former president J.R.Jayewardene’s long-time secretary W.M.P.B.Manikdiwela is to be appointed as ambassador to the Netherlands shortly.

Asked whether these names are confirmed, a senior government source said, “Prime Minister Wickremesinghe will announce the composition of the team in due course”.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the government and the LTTE signed on Feb.22 provides for direct negotiations between the two sides ninety days later. Talks are therefore likely after May 22 and not earlier as speculatively reported.

A Minister closely associated with the peace process said yesterday that direct talks will take place after May 22 and until then, “We will have depend on the Norwegians”.