Colombo: Sri Lanka's peace initiative got a major boost with the government lifting a four-year ban on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), clearing the decks for the commencement of historic talks in Thailand on September 16.

A gazette notification revoking the ban under the Prevention of Terrorism Act was issued by midnight and it would come into immediate effect, the government printer's office said.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's government has ignored opposition to the lifting of the ban at the present juncture from President Chandrika Kumaratunga that the de-proscription was being effected and that formal Cabinet approval was not necessary.

Kumaratunga's spokesman had said earlier on September 4 that such a serious matter ought to be brought before Cabinet for approval. A formal reaction from the President's office is expected later on September 5. She wants the ban to be lifted only after talks begin and record some progress.

However, the government's view is that lifting or removing proscriptions of outfits was a ministerial function of Defence Minister, who administers anti-terror Legislation.

The development fulfills a key pre-condition that the LTTE had laid down for joining the negotiations. It argued that as "the sole representative" of the Tamils of island, the organisation could not be expected to sit across the table with the stigma of illegitimacy attached to it.

PTI