Lanka govt makes formal offer to revive peace talks

Sri Lankan government offered unspecified political and financial powers to Tamil Tiger rebels on Thursday in a bid to revive the stalled Norwegian-backed peace process.

The government's chief peace negotiator, GL Peiris, said that a set of proposals to establish a "provisional administrative structure" was handed to the Tigers.

The minister said that Norwegian special envoy Jon Westborg carried the proposals to the LTTE leadership in the northern Wanni region on Thursday.

"We do not expect a quick response from the LTTE," Peiris said, noting that the Tigers would require time to consult with their constitutional and political experts before replying.

Peiris said, however, he believed that the new proposals could form the basis for reopening talks and end the deadlock.

The Tigers suspended peace talks on April 21 because of alleged government failure to deliver on promises made during the talks.

Peiris, who is also the government's constitutional affairs minister, declined to discuss details of the latest proposals, which follow two offers already rejected by the LTTE.

The Tigers are demanding greater political and financial powers in the island's embattled northern and eastern areas as a pre-condition to return to the negotiating table.

Three weeks ago, the LTTE said that peace talks could be revived if they were granted greater political authority ahead of a final settlement to the conflict that has claimed over 60,000 lives.

LTTE's London-based chief negotiator, Anton Balasingham, said that the group was awaiting a government proposal for an interim administration that would give them political, administrative and financial power.

"If a concrete set of proposals is presented, the LTTE will study the framework and suggest improvements," Balasingham said. Then, the parties can negotiate and finalise the proposals, he added.

The government's latest proposals came a day after the World Bank raised its level of assistance to Sri Lanka to one billion dollars over four years, and expressed confidence in the peace process.

The World Bank said that it was awaiting the resumption of peace talks to activate a North-East Reconstruction Fund (NERF) held by the Bank.