Tamil Tigers set to end peace talks deadlock with Colombo

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam have shown positive signs of returning to the negotiating table, but have not changed their demand for an interim administration for the north and eastern parts of Sri Lanka.

The Chief Tamil guerrilla negotiator Anton Balasingham for the first time in more than seven weeks has expressed willingness to return to the peace talks.

He told a Norwegian delegation which visited him in London that they will be returning for talks 'soon'.

After meeting the Norwegian team, Balasingham told the pro-guerrilla 'TamilNet' wbesite that the discussions he had with the facilitators in London were 'positive and constructive'.

He met with the Norwegian special envoy Eric Solheim and Lisa Golden, executive officer of the Royal Norwegian Foreign Ministry on Monday and held discussions for nearly three hours.

Solheim was due to brief the Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and the government's chief negotiator, Prof. G.L. Peiris, who are in London on an official visit.

Balasingham had told the Norwegian facilitators that the LTTE leadership is awaiting the government's proposal for an interim administration.

"If a concrete set of proposals is presented the LTTE will study the frame work and suggest improvements.

Thereafter, the parties could enter into negotiations to formalise and finalise the envisaged interim administration," Balasingham said.

Balasingham also explained to the peace envoys the need to redefine the agenda for talks.

Meanwhile, Wickremesinghe met with leading British Constitutional experts to get advice and guidelines on devolution of power to the proposed interim council for the north and eastern provinces.

Among others Wickremesinghe met with Lord Chancellor, Falconer – the Minister of Consitutional Affairs.

Security in Colombo has been intensified after a Police Intelligence Officer was shot dead by a Tamil guerrilla on Monday, followed by another assassination. The military and police presence in the city has been increased while police stations are maintaining strict checks on those entering their respective stations.