Colombo: Two leading Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam (LTTE) functionaries have been given Sri Lankan passports to enable them to participate in the second round of peace talks with the government due to begin in Thailand on October 31.

Political wing leader S P Thamilselvan and LTTE Eastern military commander Karuna would collect their passports as soon as they land at the airport in Colombo by a military helicopter from their Northern stronghold, local newspapers reported.

The two are part of the LTTE delegation that will leave for Bangkok in the wee hours of October 30. The second round of talks will go on till November 3 at the Nathorn Pathom resort, 32 km from the Thai capital.

'The Island's daily said the government's peace secretariat handled the submission of documents on their behalf after the LTTE announced last week that it wanted to send the two senior functionaries to the talks.

The establishment of a "joint task force" to supervise rehabilitation and resettlement work in the North East, and receive funds for development activities in the battle-ravaged region, is the main item on the talks agenda.

As re-deployment of the security forces in the area is likely to be a key issue, both sides are sending a military adviser to join their delegations.

The LTTE's six-member delegation and the government's five-men team are likely to leave together for Bangkok on October 30.

The first round was held in September. The two sides have adopted a step-by-step approach to the peace negotiations and do not plan to take up contentious issues concerning a final settlement right now.

PTI