I welcome the opening today of peace negotiations in Sattahip, Thailand, between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

The peace negotiations are an important step towards what I hope will be a permanent end to the conflict that has caused immense suffering to all of Sri Lanka's ethnic groups.

In support of the current peace process Australia will contribute A$7.5 million towards humanitarian objectives in Sri Lanka including mine action, food aid, rehabilitation and conflict reduction.

As part of this assistance, the Australian Government has decided to provide A$400,000 specifically for the rehabilitation of child soldiers in Sri Lanka. I call on the LTTE to release all child soldiers and to cooperate fully with efforts to assist former child soldiers in overcoming their traumatic experiences and re-joining their families and communities.

An additional amount of up to A$1.5m will also be provided through the bilateral program for community-based peace building initiatives in conflict affected areas.

Since 1998, Australia has provided more than A$8 million to the Community Resettlement Program and directly assisted more than 30,000 people, especially women and children, in the North and East of Sri Lanka. Thousands have been helped to return to productive lives as students, farmers, fishers and other occupations. In the conflict-affected areas, including areas controlled by the LTTE, more than 2000 land mines have been cleared, more than 16,000 people have received housing, six pre-schools have been established and more than 1100 wells have been sunk through the efforts of the Australian Community Resettlement Program.

Media inquiries: Chris Kenny (Ministerial) +61 02 6277 7800 / Julie McDonald (Departmental) +61 02 6261 1555