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Sri Lanka on Monday formally dismantled the seven-year-old restrictions on movement of essential goods to the LTTE-controlled northern Vanni region, when it dispatched 30 truckloads of supplies in a major move to earn the trust of the minority Tamils.
Government ministers were present when the convoy of trucks, carrying food, medicines, building materials, farm equipment and fertilisers, moved out from the Piramanalamkulam check-point, the last army post in Vavuniya district, into rebel-held areas.
With this, the United National Party-led regime of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has initiated action on an election promise to Tamils to create normality in the north before opening talks with the LTTE.
However, the government still maintains a small list of banned items like fire-arms, explosive substances, electronic remote-control equipment, binoculars and small batteries.
Years of military conflict had led to the government imposing what Tamils call an economic embargo on their homeland, but supplies in limited quantities were being maintained all along through the war years.
Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Refugees Minister Jayalath Jayawardena, who was present along with Interior Minister John Amaratunga in Vavuniya on Tuesday, said 120 truckloads of supplies would be sent every week, with 30 trucks plying on four days.
Officials said 11 trucks went to Kilinochchi, 13 to Mullaitivu, four to Madhu and Pandivirichan in Mannar area and two to Nedunkerni, all areas reeling under severe shortages for years.
Senior ministers have held extensive discussions with Vavuniya's government agent on both the quantity of supplies required and the mechanism for their proper distribution.
The relaxation of economic restrictions is considered a major step in the peace process that has gathered momentum with the observance of a mutually-agreed temporary truce for the first time since 1995.
The government has said it wants to ensure that proper arrangements are fully in place so that the movement of goods is a permanent feature rather than a one-time measure.
A Norwegian delegation is working on a draft agreement between the LTTE and the government under which the ceasefire is expected to be formalised and made permanent with proper ground rules for both sides.
The agreement is also likely to create a monitoring mechanism for the maintenance of supplies and their end-use in the 'uncleared areas', the government term for areas controlled by the LTTE.
The search for a venue for the final round of political negotiations and the exercise to finalise an agenda for the talks will begin once a permanent truce is formalised and humanitarian measures are in place.
The Norwegian team, led by Norway's Deputy Foreign Minister Vidar Helgesen, is expected to meet LTTE's chief negotiator, Anton Balasingham, in London on Tuesday as part of its continuing pre-talks peace diplomacy.
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