Progress in Colombo talks with Tamil Tigers

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has begun preparing the ground to offer the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) an interim administration in the north and eastern provinces as talks between the two sides progress.

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Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has begun preparing the ground to offer the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) an interim administration in the north and eastern provinces as talks between the two sides progress.

Wickremesinghe, anticipating opposition to the move, on Saturday told party members that the offer of an interim administration for the guerrillas will not be a violation of the constitution as it clearly provides for such move.

He said the offer for an interim administration was not a new proposal, but made during three consecutive years in his party election manifestos.

The premier's explanation is seen as a clear indication that the guerrillas will be offered the interim administration to run the north and eastern provinces. But the details of it will have to be worked out during talks between the two sides due to begin in Thailand next month.

Wickremesinghe has already explained to the chief Buddhist monks that the ban on the guerrillas which is expected to be lifted early next month would be reimposed if the need arises.

Wickremesinghe over the last weekend during meetings with the two chief Buddhist prelates had assured them they should not be worried about lifting the ban on the LTTE as there would be no obstacle in reimposing it.

However, he had expressed the hope that the need would not arise as he had confidence that the talks would progress well.

Wickremesinghe, speaking at his party's National Executive Committee meeting on Saturday, explained to his supporters that: "If the LTTE accepts an interim administration it would mean that they are accepting our constitution."

One of the key issues has been whether the guerrillas accept the country's constitution.

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA), made up of four parties represented in parliament, yeterday expressed confidence that the interim administration would be announced as talks between the government and the LTTE progress.

The TNA, which has 15 members in Parliament representing the north and eastern provinces, has agreed that the LTTE deserve to run the proposed interim administration in the north and east and will not stake a claim in the proposed administration.

The TNA has been working on the advice of the guerrillas despite many of their party leaders being assassinated by the LTTE in the earlier years.

The guerrillas currently have their own administration, police stations, courts, banks and tax system in the areas under their control in the northern and eastern provinces.

The issue of the interim administration has been one of the issues which is expected to be taken up at the talks under the Norwegian-backed peace process. Guerrillas have wanted the government to give prominence to the issue.

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