The inaugaral meeting of NACPR

A media release from the Presidents Office on Wednesday stated that, "she is confident working with the LTTE on tsunami reconstruction will provide a foundation to further our peace efforts."

In a meeting with Religious Committee of the National Advisory Council for Peace and Reconciliation (NACPR) on Tuesday the president has informed that "the LTTE have communicated their desire to work together with the government to accelerate rebuilding the tsunami-hit areas within two kilometres of the coastline in the Northern and Eastern Provinces".

Donor meeting

The meeting was held at a time where Sri Lanka is preparing to meet donor nations in mid May.

Rebel held Mullaitheevu was badly hit

Diplomats have indicated that the Sri Lanka Development Forum expects the Colombo government and Tamil Tigers to agree on a mechanism for tsunami reconstruction before any foreign aid is given.

Secretary General of the Asgiriye chapter of the Shyamopalee sect Warakawe Sri Dhammaloka thero who attended the meeting told BBC Sinhala service on Wednesday that the president addressing religious leaders of the country guaranteed that the JoMec will be dissolved within a year.

Dhammaloka thero said that no religious leader in the Tuesday meeting was opposed to the setting up of a joint mechanism.

"Make people aware of what is involved in the joint mechanism" Malwatte Mahanayaka thero

However, "the chief prelate of the Malwatte chapter Thibbotuwawe Sri Sumangala Mahanayaka thero requested the president to make people aware of what is involved in the joint mechanism," said Dhammaloka thero.

The Presidents Office on Wednesday said, "the process of seeking ways and means of engaging the LTTE in the reconstruction of the tsunami devastated infrastructure and rebuilding people's lives has arrived at a decisive stage".

"Constructive step"

It added that "consultations on this initiative are now ongoing".

The statement says that the president stated that, "the setting up of a structure where the Government, representatives of the people of the North and East and the LTTE work together would prove to be a constructive step towards the resolution of the ethnic problem".

The proposed joint mechanism has met with heavy opposition by the ruling coalition partner Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna saying that it will lead to the legitimisation of a seperate state in the North and East.