Venue

Radisson Plaza Hotel, Oslo

Date

2-5 December 2002

Negotiating Teams

Government of Sri Lanka: Headed by Prof G. L. Peris, Minister for Constitutional Affairs and Peace. Other members were Cabinet Minister Milinda Moragoda, Bernard Gunatilleke, head, Peace Secretariat, Defence Secretary Austin Fernando, Consul-General in Norway Vipula Wanigasekara, Maj Gen Shantha Kottegoda and MLM. Mohideen (who represented the Sri Lankan Muslims).

LTTE: Led by Anton Balasingam, LTTE ideologue. Other members were Adele Balasingham, Jay Maheswaran, V Rudrakumar, Batticaloa-Ampara military wing leader V Muralitharan alias “Col” V Karuna,  Political wing leader SP Thamilselvan.

Facilitators

The Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister Vidar Helgesen, Special Envoy Eric Solheim, and Norwegian ambassador to Sri Lanka Jon Westborg. Ian Martin, former Amnesty International chief, participated as a special invitee to monitor the human rights dimension.

Breakthrough

Both parties agreed to “explore a political solution founded on internal self-determination based on a federal structure within a united Sri Lanka.”

Outcome

1. It was agreed to continue the existing ceasefire and to take new concrete measures to facilitate further de-escalation.

2. Both parties agreed to expedite humanitarian de-mining to enable the displaced to return to their homes and farms.

3. Agreement on the development and safeguarding of cultural sites. The LTTE would help in restoring and rebuilding sites of Buddhist archaeological value in the North and East, while the government identified the reconstruction of the Jaffna library as a vital building for reconstruction

4. The two sides finally agreed that all political activity must be carried out by unarmed cadres and that no coercive methods should be used at any stage, while all parties had the freedom to carry out political activities.

5. LTTE’s assurances on police stations and courts to maintain law and order in the Tiger controlled areas and not to undertake any build-up for a separate state.

6. To take up human rights issues in the next round.

7. The LTTE would work closely with the UNICEF for rehabilitating children affected by war.

Snag

A sudden crisis within the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) threatened to thwart the talks as the survival of the UNA government depends on the support of six members of the SLMC. Though Rauf Hakeem’s dash back from Oslo resulted in his retaining control over the party, the issues pertaining to the Muslims were not taken up at the talks.

Reaction

National

People’s Alliance: “Merits careful study”

Sihala Urumaya: “Dangerous”

JVP: “Third part of media blitz”, “Mislead of masses”

EPDP: “We welcome it, but don’t trust it”

All Ceylon Buddhist Congress: “We reject”

International

India: “Forward movement”

United States: “Extremely positive news”

United Nations: “Laudable”

Previous Rounds

I - September 16-18, 2002 at Sattahip Naval Base, Thailand

II - 31 October – 3 November 2002 at Rose Garden resort in Nakorn Pathom, Thailand

Next Round

6-9 January 2003, in Nakhom Pathon, Thailand