Colombo, May 28: In a desperate bid to save Sri Lanka's stalled peace process, government today announced a "development-oriented structure" envisaging greater financial authority for the LTTE in carrying out reconstruction and rehabilitation work in areas of island's embattled north-east. "What we have proposed is development oriented structure that is capable of achieving efficient, speedy and adequate results," constitutional affairs minister G L Peiris, who is also leading the government delegation for the peace talks, told reporters here. However, Peiris declined to give details of the new proposals made ahead of the crucial aid pledging conference in Tokyo on June 9 - 10.

Peiris said the government also wanted to ensure effective, speedy reconstruction and rehabilitation work in the island's embattled north-east as demanded by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam and there was "no conflict" in their positions.
"This calls for a certain degree of courage and flexibility on both sides," Peiris said and expressed hope that the Norwegian peace brokers soon moved to take the proposals to the Tigers.

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Oslo's special envoy Erik Solheim was due to travel to the rebel-held northern town of Kilinochchi yesterday with the government offer, but the trip was suddenly cancelled.

Peiris said they were working on the basis that the Tigers will attend the aid conference hosted by Japan next month although there has been no formal announcement by the guerrillas that they had called off the boycott. Bureau Report