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PA brought into peace process
The Government and President Chandrika Kumaratunga have decided to appoint a joint committee to review the peace process as preparations get under way for the second round of talks with the LTTE later this month.

Two members each will be named to the joint committee which will discuss the progress of each round of talks.

The Sunday Times learns that the Government has decided to nominate Ministers Milinda Moragoda and Tilak Marapana while the President has picked International Affairs Advisor Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar and will nominate another person soon. Mr. Kadirgamar told The Sunday Times that the Joint Committee would take up the "issues" that came up at the talks with the LTTE.

He said this committee was aimed at building southern consensus, and as far as the PA was concerned it would stick very much to the draft 2000 constitution.

"We haven't given the UNP a blank cheque to agree to anything with the LTTE," Mr. Kadirgamar said. The joint committee is also likely to review the national security situation as the peace talks progress.

The decision to appoint the Committee came during a three hour meeting between Mr. Moragoda and the President on Friday where the President was briefed on the progress of the talks so far. The Presidential Secretariat said it was the most comprehensive briefing given to the President after the Wickremesinghe government launched its peace initiative.

Besides this, other important meetings are also to take place in the coming days and weeks. The LTTE's chief negotiator, Anton Balasingham, is due in the Wanni soon for talks with LTTE Leader Velupillai Prabhakaran on the current situation and the next round of discussions with the government.

Norway's Deputy Foreign Minister Vidar Helgesen is also due in Sri Lanka for talks with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, President Kumaratunga and the LTTE leader in Wanni.

SLMC leader Rauff Hakeem is due to travel to the Wanni within the next two weeks while the Tamil National Alliance also has sought a meeting with the LTTE chief. Norwegian Ambassador Jon Westborg on Monday met President Kumaratunga and discussed developments related to the peace process.

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