The United States has praised the Sri Lankan Government and the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam for sustaining a ceasefire and moving toward a final settlement of their conflict.

The first round of peace talks occurred in Thailand September 16-18 with Norwegian diplomats acting as facilitators. The two sides have scheduled more talks in the coming months.

A statement released by the U. S. Embassy in Colombo, Sri Lanka, September 19 also welcomed the efforts by the government and rebels to help people displaced by the fighting to return to their homes and to improve humanitarian conditions in the northern and eastern areas of the country.