The fourth session of the peace talks between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) will take place from 6-9 January 2003 at the Rose Garden Hotel in Nakhorn Pathom, Thailand.

The government delegation will be headed by Prof G L Peiris and comprise Mr Milinda Moragoda, Mr Rauf Hakeem and Ambassador Bernard Goonatillake. Also joining the delegation will be Defence Secretary Austin Fernando and Maj Gen Shantha Kottegoda.

This meeting is expected to take up reports of the two sub-committees (i.e. Sub-committee on Immediate Humanitarian & Rehabilitation Needs and Sub-Committee on De-Escalation & Normalization), matters arising from the last session of peace talks in Oslo, human rights issues, etc.

In the interest of the media, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand will set up a Media Centre at ‘Pailin Room’ on the ground floor of the Rose Garden Hotel. There will be photo opportunities made available to accredited members of the media on Monday 6 January and at the Press Conference on Thursday 9 January 2003.