The Geneva talks of February 2006

The Government held talks with the LTTE at Chateau de Bossey, Celigny, Switzerland, on 22 and 23 February 2006.

Its negotiating team consisted of the following people:

1. Hon. Nimal Siripala de Silva, Minister of Healthcare and Nutrition, Leader of the House - Head of Delegation
2. Hon. Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, Minister of Trade and Commerce and Minister of Highways and Chief Govt Whip
3. Hon. Ferial Ashraff, Minister of Housing and Construction
4. Hon Rohitha Bogollagama, Minister of Industries and Investment Promotion
5. Mr. Chandra Fernando, IGP
6. Dr Palitha Kohona, Special Adviser to the President on the Peace Process
7. Mr. H.L de Silva, Presidents Counsel

They were assisted by the following advisors:

1. Dr. John Gooneratne, Acting Secretary General, SCOPP
2. Mr. Shanaka Jayasekera, Director Policy, SCOPP
3. Vice Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda, Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy
4. Mr Ajith Nivard Cabraal, Secretary Ministry of Plan Implementation
5. Mr.Sajin de Vaas Goonewardena, Coordinating Secretary to the President
6. Brig. Mendaka Samarasinghe, Director General, General Staff , Sri Lanka Army
7. Mr. Gomin Dayasiri, Attorney at Law
8. Mrs Sarala Fernando, Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva 

     
The opening statement by the Government can be found here.

The LTTE delegation was made up of the following people:

1. Mr. Anton Balasingham, Chief Negotiator
2. Mr. S.P. Tamilselvan
3. Ms. Adele Balasingham
4. Mr. B. Mahendran (Nadesan)
5. Mr. B. Suventhiran (Jeyam)
6. Mr. R. Punitharuban (Marshall)
7. Mr. S. Prabagaran (Puleedevan)

They were advised by the following team:

1. Mr. Sudaharan Nadarajah, Editor of Tamil Guardian, UK
2. Mr. V.K. Pancharatnam (George), Translator
3. Mr. M. Shavundarakrisnan, (Alex)
4. Mr. Suhandhan

The opening statement by the LTTE can be found here.

Also participating in the talks were the Norwegian facilitators, Mr. Eric Solheim, Minister for International Development Cooperation, Mr. Vidar Helgesen, Advisor to the Royal Norwegian Government, and Ambassador Hans Brattskar, Norwegian Ambassador to Sri Lanka.  Mr. Hagrup Haukland, Head of Mission - SLMM, and Ms. Helen Olafsdottir, Spokesperson - SLMM, were also present. 

The closing statement made by the Norwegian facilitators can be found here.