UK to increase Sri Lanka aid

A UK minister visiting Sri Lanka has announced that the government in London will nearly double its aid to the island as a sign of confidence in the country's peace process.

Foreign Office Minister, Mike O'Brien, said British aid would rise to nearly $25m this year, with a further $32m to follow in 2004.)

The Sri Lankan Government and Tamil Tiger separatists agreed a cease-fire last year.

Correspondents say the subsequent talks on power-sharing have been going well, but the country desperately needs help to rebuild after two decades of fighting.

Mr O'Brien praised the Sri Lankan peace efforts, saying they were an example of how to deal with what he called "a problem of terrorism".

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service