Colombo: Sri Lanka on September 4 lifted a four-year ban on Tamil Tiger (LTTE) guerrillas clearing the way for historic peace talks in Thailand, Defence Minister Tilak Marapone said.

Marapone told the Cabinet that he used his powers as minister of Defence to lift the January 1998 ban on the rebel LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam), conceding to a key demand of the rebels.

President Chandrika Kumaratunga, who had opposed the lifting of the ban, was not present at the meeting at which the government move was announced, a minister said.

Formal negotiations between the government and the rebels are due to open in Thailand on September 16.