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Mahanayake plans agenda for talks with LTTE
 By Shane Seneviratne
The Ven Thibbotuwawe Sri Sumangala Mahanayake Thera of the Malwatte Chapter is to hold a meeting with the Sangha Sabhawa to draw up an agenda for discussions with an LTTE delegation.

The Mahanayake Thera told The Sunday Times that at the next meeting of the Sangha Sabhawa, they would discuss issues to be taken up with the LTTE delegation but would not give their nod for the LTTE's demand for an Interim Self-Governing Authority (ISGA).

Both the Malwatte Mahanayake and the LTTE have agreed on the meeting which was mooted and is being facilitated by UPF leader P. Chandrasekaran. 'The LTTE should join the democratic mainstream and contest elections. It does not need an ISGA to serve the people," the Mahanayake said.

He said he believed the LTTE had, over the years, politically matured to understand the realities and the need for a peaceful solution to the national problem.The Mahanayake said he was looking forward to the meeting in spite of protests from groups such as the Federation of Buddhist Organisations. The FBO said no discussions should be held with a group that had not given up separatism and violence

The Mahanayake said the JVP would also have to soften its hardline position when finding a solution to the conflict. Meannwhile, Mr. Chandrasekaran has also invited the JVP for a meeting with the LTTE, but the Marxist nationalist party has not responded yet.
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