At his first press conference in 12 years, Velupillai Prabhakaran, leader of the Tamil Tigers, reiterates his organisation's core principles.
Timeline of events under "Power sharing" issue
16 to 18 September. First round of direct talks between Srilankan government and the LTTE began at the Sattahip naval base in Thailand on 16 September 2002.
Britain’s Liam Fox facilitates an agreement between President Chandrika Kumaratunga and opposition Leader Ranil Wickramasinghe, the main purpose of which is to refrain from undermining the efforts for peace by the government in office.
Government officially announces its 'devolution package' to grant greater autonomy to the provinces through greater power-sharing with Tamil and Muslim minorities.
All Party Conference to resolve the ethnic crisis begins.
The UNP attempts to reverse nationalistic measure. The agreement is signed between Dudley Senanayake and S.J.V. Chelvanayakam, pledging to make Tamil the language of administration and courts in the North East, establish District Councils and give priority to Tamils when granting land in resettlement schemes in the North East.
Talks between S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike and leaders of the Federal Party: the 'Bandaranaike–Chelvanayagam Pact' is signed, pledging to devolve state power through regional councils, to recognise Tamil as a national minority language and to slow Sinhalese resettlement in the North East.
All Ceylon Tamil Congress leader, G.G. Ponnambalam, asks for ‘50:50’ representation (50% for the Sinhalese, and 50% for other minorities) before the Soulbury Commission.
