1st June 2003

Mr Anton Balasingham
Chief Negotiator to the LTTE
LTTE Headquarters
Killinochchi.

Dear Mr Balasingham,

I have your letter of 30th May 2003, containing the response of the leadership of your organization to the proposal made by me through the Norwegian Facilitator.

I appreciate that your organisation is doing its utmost to seek a settlement through negotiations and that you are sincerely and seriously committed to the peace process. Furthermore, I am pleased by the reiteration of the LTTE’s position that it has “renounced violent struggle and war”. The Government for its part is fully committed to achieving an atmosphere where the process could be carried forward towards the accomplishment of our common objective.

The international Donor community is also playing its role to further the peace process. Moreover despite a final settlement not yet being in place, the Donor community has unlike in other similar situations in the world, thought it would be appropriate to invest considerable material support for the North-East reconstruction. You would also appreciate that an interim administrative structure would need to have the endorsement of the international community in order to mobilise adequate resources for the reconstruction of the North-East. The funding mechanisms proposed will ensure that the funds that are intended for the rehabilitation of the North-East will be utilised for the purposes for which they are pledged and committed. This to our mind is the gist of the international safety-net which protects the whole of the peace process.

As I indicated in my letter of 27th May, to the Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs, a copy of which was made available to you, the innovative administrative structure that was proposed for reconstruction and development of the North-East will have to achieve the following objectives:

· to be efficient, transparent and accountable;
· safeguard the interests of all communities in the North-East;
· enable the LTTE to play a significant role;
· not be in conflict with the laws of Sri Lanka.

Let me reiterate here our position regarding the innovative structure for the development of the North-East. It was our intention that any further clarification could have been provided by the Norwegian team.

At the pinnacle of the structure is the Apex Body. It was intended to be a provisional measure and would have adequate administrative authority for the delivery of tasks. It will play the dominant role. Its core activity would be strategic decision-making in respect of all immediate and medium term rehabilitation, reconstruction and development work in the North-East.

The composition and size of the Apex Body would be the subject of discussion between the Parties. But undoubtedly the LTTE will participate in the Apex Body and have a majority voice in its deliberations, subject to effective safeguards which are mutually agreed upon for Muslim and Sinhala interests.

The institutions at the middle level will act as support mechanisms and will not usurp the dominant role of the Apex Body. The LTTE will also have effective participation at these levels.

We are convinced that the structure proposed by us taken as a whole, will fully enable the accomplishment of the objectives which you have stipulated in respect of development, rehabilitation and humanitarian activities in the North-East. We are also confident that this fact can be made clear to you if the opportunity for a comprehensive discussion about the content of the proposal could be arranged at this juncture. In view of the complex and innovative character of the elements that comprise this proposal it is our conviction that a practical resolution of this matter is possible only by substantive discussion and that communication through the exchange of letters will not be sufficient.

It is for this reason that we urge the holding of such a meeting, with the active participation of the Facilitator in order to surmount the existing problems and carry the process forward in a manner acceptable to both parties.

Therefore I am writing to Mr Jan Petersen Norwegian Foreign Minister requesting that the Facilitator arrange for a dialogue in order to enable representatives of the Government to explain, provide whatever clarification is necessary and to enable an understanding of your views. A discussion between the two Delegations could be subsequently arranged.

With best wishes,

Yours sincerely,

Ranil Wickremesinghe
Prime Minister