Sri Lanka Friday named a former United Nations disarmament chief to spearhead new peace talks with Tamil Tiger rebels amid stepped up diplomatic moves.Jayantha Dhanapala, a UN undersecretary general for disarmament affairs until last year, was named secretary general of the government's "peace secretariat," President Chandrika Kumaratunga's office said.
Dhanapala, a Sri Lankan, was also named a senior adviser to the president from June, Kumaratunga's office said in a statement.
The appointment came as Norwegian peace brokers were set to announce dates for peace talks between the Tamil Tiger guerrillas and Kumaratunga's government which came to power in April.
The London-based top Tamil Tiger peace negotiator, Anton Balasingham, left here Friday after a week-long visit during which he had consultations with Tiger supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran on resuming talks, officials said.
The Tigers, who have waged a three-decade campaign for a separate Tamil homeland, announced Thursday they will resume peace talks suspended a year ago after a Norwegian envoy made an unannounced visit to the rebel-held north.
Japan's special peace envoy to Sri Lanka, Yasushi Akashi is expected here Saturday while Christina Rocca, the US assistant secretary of state for South Asian affairs, is already here holding talks with Sri Lankan leaders.
The US and Japan have strongly backed the Norwegian-led peace efforts.
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