Sri Lanka's stalled peace talks with Tamil Tiger rebels will resume early next month, ending an 18-month deadlock in the Norwegian-backed process, a state-run newspaper reported Sunday.
A top official from President Chandrika Kumaratunga's office visited the rebel-held town of Kilinochchi Saturday amid signs the peace process was being re-activated, the Sunday Observer said.
"There are positive signs that the government - LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) peace talks would recommence in early November," the paper said.
The report came a day after Tiger rebels freed two paramilitary policemen they had been holding since August.
Military officials said the Tigers released the two men in the north-eastern district of Trincomalee Saturday, a day after a Sri Lankan court granted bail to 10 Tiger rebels who had been in remand custody for illegally carrying weapons.