Status

First Round

Venue

Sattahip Naval Base, Thailand

Date  

16-18 September 2002

Negotiating Teams  

Government of Sri Lanka: Headed by Prof G. L. Peris, Minister for Constitutional Affairs and Peace. Other members were Rauf Hakeem, Milinda Moragoda, Cabinet Ministers, and Bernard Gunatilleke, Peace Secretariat head.

LTTE: Led by Anton Balasingam, LTTE ideologue. Other members were V. Rudrakumaran, Jay Maheshwaran, and Adele Balasingham.

Facilitators

Norway: The Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister, Vidar Helgesen, Special Envoy, Eric Solheim, and Norwegian ambassador to Sri Lanka, Jon Westborg.

Breakthrough

LTTE’s readiness to accept "autonomy and self-governance' in northern and eastern Sri Lanka along the latest UN principles of self-determination; relegating separation, its long-standing demand, to only "the last resort'.

Outcome  

1. Resolve to address the full range of issues pertaining to a lasting political settlement of the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka, fully realizing that this can best be achieved by pursuing a step-by-step approach to the negotiation process.

2. To continue upholding the Ceasefire Agreement and expanding the range of confidence-building measures over the period ahead. To strengthen the Monitoring Mission (SLMM).

3. The two immediate priorities of the parties identified were (a) stepping up humanitarian mine action, and (b) accelerating resettlement and rehabilitation of internally displaced persons. 

4. To establish promptly a Joint Committee to deal with the issues relating to High Security Zones with the aim of enabling the return of larger numbers of displaced persons to their areas of origin, thereby facilitating the restoration of normalcy. This Joint Committee will consist of senior representatives of both sides, including military personnel. 

5. The parties agreed to establish a Joint Task Force for Humanitarian and Reconstruction Activities, to address the difficult humanitarian situation in the north and east of Sri Lanka. The Joint Task Force will constitute a partnership between the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE, and will have responsibility for the identification, financing and monitoring of urgent humanitarian and reconstruction activities in the north and east.

6. Appealed to donors to provide immediate funding for humanitarian priorities to enhance public confidence in the peace process and thus contribute to further progress in the quest for peace in Sri Lanka. 

7. To continue negotiations in three rounds on October 31-November 3, 2002, December 2-5, 2002 and January 6-9, 2003 to discuss substantive issues.

 Reaction  

• Government of Sri Lanka– “Satisfied”.

•  LTTE – “Pleased”.

•  President of Sri Lanka– Cautious Optimism.

•  Sangha – Mixed.

•  Sihala Urumaya – “Wait and Watch”.

•  JVP – “Nothing New”.

•   International Community – Happy.

Previous Peace Talks  

1994-95, 1990, 1987, 1984.