Mr Patten also met Sri Lanka's Prime Minister, RanilWickramasinghe, on Wednesday, after returning from talks with the Tigers in rebel territory in northern Sri Lanka.
The present round of negotiations, initiated by Prime Minister RanilWickramasinghe is unique in a way because this is the first time a power from outside the region is mediating.
The government of Prime Minister RanilWickramasinghe depends on the Muslim party for its slim majority in parliament, though it can also count on the Tamil parties as well for outside support.