SRI LANKA: Sri Lanka's warring parties wrapped up peace talks yesterday vowing not to return to war and agreeing jointly to work on a "federal model" to end three decades of ethnic bloodshed.
Peace broker, Norway, said Sri Lanka's government and the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam agreed that a "federal model" could be the basis for a final political solution to a conflict that has left 60,000 people dead.
The deal means there will be regional autonomy with an extensive degree of devolution of power to minority Tamils, but the geographic limits and the extent of devolved authority is up for negotiation, according to diplomats.
The breakthrough came earlier than expected, diplomats said, adding that the two sides unexpectedly agreed to the political framework after a presentation on the Canadian constitution conducted on the sidelines of the talks here.
Sri Lanka's chief negotiator, Mr G. L. Peiris, said the Norwegian-led and internationally-backed peace process had become "irreversible" as people in the island desperately wanted peace.
Norway's Deputy Foreign Minister, Mr Vidar Helgesen said the two sides agreed on a "working outline defining the objectives as well as a number of substantive political issues for negotiations."
It is the first time that the two sides have formally agreed on a federal system of government to replace the 1978 unitary constitution.
From Oslo, the parties will go back to Thailand, the regular host for talks, for the next two rounds in January and February. Talks in March are expected to be in Japan.
The conclusion of talks in Oslo coincided with Sri Lankan president Chandrika Kumaratunga gaining constitutional powers under the constitution from yesterday to sack the parliament without having to offer any explanation.