Colombo, Aug 13: Amidst political uncertainty back home, a senior Sri Lankan minister overseeing the government's peace efforts has reached Oslo for preliminary discussions with an LTTE representative in the presence of Norwegian peace facilitators in a bid to kick-start direct talks.

Economic reforms minister Milinda Moragoda will meet LTTE chief negotiator Anton Balasingham for the second time in three weeks to work out modalities and an agenda for possible talks in Thailand. The two had met in London at the Norwegian ambassador's residence on July 27, a step that revived a somewhat dormant peace process after months of uncertainty. Balasingham is in Oslo for the past few days for preparatory meetings with the government there.

The government's peace secretariat said here that its director-general Bernand Gunatilake would also be present during the discussion that was likely to take place tomorrow in the presence of Norwegian deputy foreign minister Vidar Helgesen and special advisor Erik Solheim. There are some developments emerging on the peace front, F Gunatilake told state-run media before leaving for Oslo yesterday.

The focus of the talks is likely to be on its agenda, an interim council for the north-east and the current political situation in Sri Lanka.

The Oslo discussions will take place under the shadow of a burgeoning conflict between executive President Chandrika Kumaratunga and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe over the latter's fears that the president will dissolve Parliament in December. Bureau Report