22 May 2004	Saturday	02 Rabi-us-Saani 1425

BATTICALOA, May 21: LTTE sources said one of their men was killed in an explosion in Aalankerni, 42 kilometres north of eastern Batticaloa, on Thursday night.

Aalankerni is close to the Batticaloa-Polannaruwa Road which is controlled by the army.

LTTE officials in Batticaloa said they were awaiting more information about the explosion and the damage it had caused. Norwegian special peace envoy to Sri Lanka, Erik Solheim, is scheduled to arrive in Colombo next Monday to finalise the dates for resumption of the peace process.

He is expected to hold talks with President Chandrika Kumaratunga and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse. Mr Solheim is to fly to the LTTE base of Killinochchi on May 26 to hand over a message from President Kumaratunga to the leadership of the Tigers, according to the sources.

They said Mr Solheim was to hold a comprehensive discussion with the LTTE leadership regarding the question of resuming the stalled peace talks. On his return from Kilinochchi, he was to meet the president again and would brief her on the latest development, they added.