EXHIBIT 23(A)

                          INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT

The Board of Directors
The Travelers Life and Annuity Company:

We consent to the use of our  reports  with  respect to The  Travelers  Life and
Annuity Company,  incorporated herein by reference,  and to the reference to our
firm,  also with respect to The Travelers  Life and Annuity  Company,  under the
heading  "Experts"  in the  prospectus.  Our  reports  refer to  changes  in the
Company's  methods of accounting for goodwill and intangible  assets in 2002 and
for derivative  instruments and hedging activities and for securitized financial
assets in 2001.

We  also  consent  to the  use of our  reports  with  respect  to The  Travelers
Insurance Company, incorporated herein by reference, and to the reference to our
firm, also with respect to The Travelers  Insurance  Company,  under the heading
"Experts"  in the  prospectus.  Our  reports  refer to changes in the  Company's
methods of accounting for variable  interest  entities in 2003, for goodwill and
intangible assets in 2002, and for derivative instruments and hedging activities
and for securitized financial assets in 2001.

/s/ KPMG LLP

Hartford, Connecticut
March 26, 2004