¡¡¡¡COLOMBO, January 20 (Xinhuanet) -- The Sri Lankan government hopes to sign a Memorandum of Understanding(MOU) with separatist Tamil Tiger rebels to provide the basic foundation for a negotiated settlement to the country's long-running ethnic conflict, the official Sunday Observer said.

¡¡¡¡Enterprise Development Minister G.L. Peiris said that the MOU which will incorporate the terms and conditions for an extended ceasefire will set the stage for the peace talks between the government and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

¡¡¡¡Discussion are underway between the government, the Norwegian peace facilitators and the LTTE to stabilize the current one-month ceasefire for a period of one year.

¡¡¡¡Peiris expressed his satisfaction with the implementation of the confidence building measures taken by the government.

¡¡¡¡Both the government and LTTE rebels are observing a month-long ceasefire which is expected to be extended beyond the January 24 deadline. The government has also allowed essential goods to flow to areas controlled by LTTE rebels in the north which helps to alleviate the sufferings of the Tamils.

¡¡¡¡While the peace process in the war-torn country is gaining momentum, the political wing leader of LTTE S.P. Thamilselvan on Wednesday told reporters in Mallavi town in the rebel held northern Wanni region that they would start peace talks with the government only after they are recognized as a legitimate partner. ¡¡¡¡

¡¡¡¡The LTTE have been fighting against government forces since 1983 in the north and east of the country in an attempt to create an independent Tamil homeland there. More than 64,000 people have been killed in the fighting. Enditem

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