Sri Lanka peace talks 'soon'

The Tigers' ceasefire has been ignored by government

Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga says she expects peace talks with Tamil Tiger rebels to start soon.

In an interview with CNN in Delhi, she said the two sides could probably meet in two months because the Tigers had asked for time to implement certain conditions.

Her comments are her most optimistic yet on the possibility of face-to-face negotiations with the Tigers, who have been waging an 18-year-old war for an independent homeland.

Chandrika Kumaratunga has been sounding increasingly optimistic in recent weeks

They come a day after the rebels extended a unilateral ceasefire in the north and east of the country, in what they said was a goodwill gesture aimed at promoting the peace process.

Although Mrs Kumaratunga has said her government will not respond to "fake" ceasefires, her comments on the Norwegian-brokered peace process have become increasingly upbeat.

Speaking at Independence Day celebrations earlier this month, she said the Tigers were sending out positive signals in response to her offer of peace talks.

Shuttle diplomacy

Norwegian envoy Erik Solheim has been shuttling between the government and the Tiger leader Velupillai Prabhakaran in an attempt to get negotiations under way.

But on Friday, Mrs Kumaratunga said both sides would now have to decide the date for the start of talks.

Norway's Erik Solheim has been trying to get the two sides to talk

Despite her optimism, however, the president also said the Tigers were an organisation "born, bred, fed and living on violence", adding that she did not know how they would survive in a democracy.

The last talks between the government and the Tigers broke down five years ago, not long after Mrs Kumaratunga was elected president, vowing to end ethnic conflict.

Her latest comments, made during an official visit to India, may go down well internationally, but the president faces tough political obstacles at home.

The main opposition United National Party said earlier it was looking into launching impeachment proceedings against her.

UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe alleges the president violated the constitution by failing to consult her cabinet before floating the Sri Lankan rupee last month

The opposition is keen to capitalise on public discontent about the rising cost of living caused by the devaluation of the currency.