Colombo consults Indian security expert

The Sri Lankan government is to consult a leading Indian anti-insurgency expert, KPS Gill, about possible solutions to the long-running conflict with Tamil rebels in the north.

Mr Gill, who was chief of police in Punjab during a revolt by Sikh militants in the 1980s, has confirmed reports that he's going to Colombo in a personal capacity next week.

He said he would be talking informally about security to government officials, policy makers and academics.

In the north, Tamil Tiger guerrillas have continued their assault on the city of Jaffna and the army says it's holding on to fresh defensive positions it was forced to take up after heavy rebel shelling to the east of the city.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service