India pledges help on Lanka peace

Kadirgamar: Key aide of Sri Lankan president

India's new government has promised help to Sri Lanka in reviving the stalled peace process with the Tamil rebels.

"Whatever help we can give..we will certainly give," Indian foreign minister K. Natwar Singh told reporters after a meeting with his Sri Lankan counterpart Lakshman Kadirgamar in Delhi.

He said Delhi hoped that a "peaceful, negotiated solution will be found" to bring about peace.

Mr Kadirgamar met Mr Singh in the first high-level exchange between the two neighbours after the recent change of government in Delhi.

He is also expected to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Mr Kadirgamar, a key aide of President Chandrika Kumaratunga, has said that his government is exploring the possibility of India playing a more direct role in the peace process.

"In our country, there is a significant body of opinion across the board, which wishes to see India play a suitable role in the evolution of our peace process and the reaching of a final settlement," Mr Kadirgamar said.

He said it "had not reached a point where I can tell you with precision what this role would be."

India has taken a hands-off approach since it pulled out its troops in 1990 after a three-year deployment on the island, following heavy casualties.

Closer ties

The previous Sri Lankan government led by Ranil Wickramasinghe had been discussing a deal in which Delhi could supply military equipment and train personnel.

The rebels had protested, saying peace prospects in Sri Lanka could be damaged by a proposed defence pact with India.

President Chandrika Kumaratunga has said the new government will revive peace talks with Tamil Tiger rebels.

However, she gave no timetable for the resumption of talks.

Although a ceasefire with the Tigers has held for two years, the rebels pulled out of negotiations last April saying the government had not followed up on pledges in the north and east.

The rebels have threatened to resume their armed struggle unless they were granted self-rule.

Norway helped broker the ceasefire between the two sides, after 20 years of civil war claimed more than 60,000 lives.