Envoy is to meet President Rajapaksa for the first time he took over

Speaking with BBC Sandeshaya minutes before boarding the flight, the special peace envoy said both parties are “eager” to engage in talks on saving the Cease Fire Agreement (CFA) signed in 2002.

The envoy, who played a major role in brokering the truce, is to meet Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera on Monday.

First meeting

Minister Solheim is also scheduled to meet President Mahinda Rajapaksa, on Tuesday before flying by Sri Lanka Airforce helicopter direct to Wanni for a meeting with LTTE leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran.

The Army and the Air Force have been tasked with providing the security and the air passage to Anton Balasingham Brigadier Athula Jayawardhana

International truce monitors and analysts feared another phase of civil war as violence escalated since December, last year.

Tamil Tigers are accused of killing nearly 70 Sri Lankan soldiers and sailors since President Mahinda Rajapaksa sworn in November 17.

Tamil Tiger supporters say more than 40 Tamils have been killed by the security forces in a series of attacks since the start of December.

Others blame some of those deaths on the rebels or other armed groups.

Balasingham arrival

	Balasingham to be airlifted to Wanni by Sri Lanka military

The LTTE accused military of killing Tamil National Alliance parliamentarian Joseph Pararajasingham.

LTTE chief negotiator Anton Balasingham is also scheduled to arrive in Colombo on Monday to assist talks between the envoy and the LTTE.

Balasingham will then be flown to Wanni by Sri Lankan Air Force, Director Operations of the Sri Lankan Army Brigadier Athula Jayawardhana told bbcsinhala.com.

He said: “The Army and the Air Force have been tasked with providing the security and the air passage to Anton Balasingham”.

Solheim said he is to meet other political party leaders including Minister Douglas Devananada upon his arrival from Wanni.