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Sri Lanka's Constitutional Affairs Minister G L Peiris will head the government delegation in the proposed talks with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in Thailand, the state media said on Saturday.
Peiris, a former professor of law and former vice-chancellor of Colombo University, will be assisted by Economic Reforms Minister Milinda Moragoda and Sri Lanka's envoy in Bangkok, the state-run radio said.
Peiris and Moragoda are already handling the ongoing peace process on behalf of the Ranil Wickremesinghe government. They are seen as the most moderate faces in the cabinet, with a strong commitment to ethnic reconciliation in the strife-torn nation.
Thailand on Friday accepted a request by peace facilitator Norway to host the talks, though the venue and dates are yet to be finalised.
The LTTE is expected to send its principal negotiator Anton Balasingham and S P Thamilchelvam, leader of its political wing, among others, for what will be the fourth time that direct talks are held.
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