NEW DELHI, Jan. 25 (UPI) -- Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse has discussed the revival of the peace process with the Norwegian facilitator.
The two-hour talks were held a day ahead of Erik Solheim's visit to rebel-held Kilinochchi. He will meet with Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam leader V. Prabhakaran and discuss measures to revive direct talks between Colombo and the LTTE rebels.
Solheim has been linked to Sri Lanka's peace process since Norway agreed to facilitate talks between the two sides.
The Hindu newspaper said Wednesday there has been considerable international pressure on the LTTE to abandon violence and resume negotiations.
U.S. Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns, who visited Colombo, said the rebels would not receive any support it they continued with violence.
"The Tamils have legitimate grievances and that we hope that the LTTE will understand that it will have no relationship with my government and, indeed no effective relationship with any country in this world as long as it seeks to redress its grievances through the barrel of a gun," Burns said.
The peace process in the strife-torn country was stalled after the LTTE pulled out in 2003, protesting against the choice of venue to discuss the implementation of the cease-fire agreement.
"After a round of discussions in which senior officials were present, Rajapakse and Solheim held a lengthy and cordial discussion on current developments regarding the peace process and the cease-fire agreement," said the President's office.
