Progress at Sri Lanka peace talks

Agreement is said to have been reached in several areas

SATTAHIP, Thailand (CNN) -- Significant progress was made Tuesday in the first round of peace talks aimed at ending one of the world's longest-running civil wars, and more meetings are planned between the Sri Lankan government and the Tamil Tiger rebels, sources told CNN.

During the historic summit's second day, agreement was reached in several areas, particularly on economic issues, the sources said.

And Tamil Tiger officials confirmed another three rounds of talks will take place in Thailand, starting in late October.

The meetings, part of a peace effort brokered by Norway, are the first direct talks in seven years in the conflict between government forces and the Liberation Tamil Tigers of Eelam, the LTTE, who are fighting for a Tamil homeland in Sri Lanka.

CNN NewsPass VIDEO CNN's Tom Mintier reports on peace talks between Sri Lanka and Tamil Tiger rebels aimed at ending a 19-year civil war. Play video   IN-DEPTH Sri Lanka: A nation divided  • Sri Lanka timeline

Though government officials, as well as the Norwegian facilitators, had previously warned against expecting quick results, both sides hope that if the meetings end on a positive note it will attract international aid for Sri Lanka, torn by war for nearly 20 years, observers said.

Nearly 65,000 people have been killed in the civil war.

The government maintains that a substantial majority of Sri Lankans support its peace initiative.

And a newspaper poll showed that more than 50 per cent of the respondents were happy with the the government's peace efforts.

The first-round of talks, at Sattahip Naval Base, east of Bangkok, are to conclude Wednesday.

Both sides plan to discuss how to further strengthen a nine-month-old cease-fire.