The sixth session of peace talks commenced on Tuesday, 18 March 2003, in the salubrious location of Hakone, Japan. The government delegation is headed by Hon. Prof. G.L.Peiris and included Hon. Milinda Moragoda, Hon. Rauf Hakeem and Ambassador Bernard Goonetilleke. The LTTE delegation is headed by Dr. Anton Balasingham and includes Mr. S.P. Tamilselvan, Mr. Vinayagamurthy Muralitharan (Karuna) and Mrs. Adele Balasingham.

The two sides discussed the recent incident of a LTTE vessel being sunk off the Mullaitivu coast and how effective safeguards could be implemented to prevent the recurrence of such incidents. It is likely to result in the two parties initiating a dialogue to formulate modalities to address the issue.

They also discussed formalities relating to situations in which soldiers or cadres transgressing into areas dominated by each other and ways and means of resolving the problem.

The discussions were conducted in a cordial and friendly atmosphere with the Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister Vidar Helgessen functioning as facilitator.

Matters of rehabilitation and resettlement including the progress of the Sub-Committee on Immediate Humanitarian and Rehabilitation Needs (SIHRN) will be taken up tomorrow.