Reports indicate that Tamil rebels and the Sri Lankan government are making progress in the second round of peace talks mediated by Norway in Bangkok. They have reached an agreement on the composition of a committee for the reconstruction of areas devastated during decades of conflict between the Tamil minority and the Sinhalese majority in Sri Lanka. The Tamil rebels also agreed to increased Muslim representation in the committee. A final peace agreement is expected to be signed at the end of the ongoing talks on Sunday. The rebels began their struggle in 1983 aiming to establish an independent homeland for Tamils, but now they say they will settle for reasonable autonomy. In the latest news, Sri Lankan government officials and Tamil rebels stated that significant progress has been made in today's discussions, which marked the third day of peace negotiations. J.L. Peiris, head of the Sri Lankan negotiating team, said both sides have agreed to find a political solution to end the 19-year civil war. He mentioned that a committee will be formed to study the necessary political arrangements to eliminate ethnic conflicts. Approximately 65,000 people have been killed in the 19-year civil war in Sri Lanka. In this island, where the majority population is Sinhalese, Tamil rebels have fought for an independent Tamil state, but since the talks began last September, they have abandoned this demand. The two sides also agreed today to form a committee to monitor the reduction of military activities.
Progress in Sri Lanka Peace Talks - 2002-11-02
Tamil rebels and the Sri Lankan government are making progress in peace talks mediated by Norway, agreeing on a committee for reconstruction and political solutions to end a 19-year civil war. The rebels have shifted from seeking independence to accepting reasonable autonomy. This is significant as it may lead to a resolution of long-standing ethnic conflicts.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
The Tamil rebels and the Sri Lankan government are making significant progress in peace talks, agreeing on a committee for reconstruction and a political solution to end a long-standing civil war. The rebels have shifted their demands from seeking independence to accepting reasonable autonomy.
- The civil war has lasted for 19 years and resulted in approximately 65,000 deaths.
- The peace talks are being mediated by Norway and have seen a shift in the rebels' stance on autonomy.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Sri Lanka has faced a protracted civil war primarily between the Sinhalese majority and the Tamil minority, with demands for autonomy and independence leading to significant violence and loss of life.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%