Nakhon Pathom (Thailand): Tamil Tigers and the Sri Lankan government on November 1 began the second day of peace talks, despite a 200-year jail sentence slapped on Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) chief Prabhakaran by the Sri Lankan High Court.

Forging a joint appeal for foreign aid and setting up of a joint task force for developing areas affected by 19 years of ethnic conflict will top the agenda of talks.

Colombo High Court on October 31 sentenced Tamil Tiger chief Vellupillai Prabhakaran in absentia for planning a truck bombing on Central Bank that killed 91 people and injured 300.

Government negotiators however said the talks would not be affected by Prabhakaran's sentencing.

Tamil Tiger negotiators did not comment on the sentencing, but their appearance at the talks on November 1 showed that it was not seen as a major hurdle.

On October 31, the negotiators reached key agreements on providing security to the Muslims in North Eastern Sri Lanka, where most of the community lives.

PTI