Sri Lankan opposition pledges support to govt peace

Sri Lanka's main opposition said Thursday that they would extend support to President Chandrika Kumaratunga's peace effort with the Tamil Tiger rebels.

G.L. Peiris, spokesman for the main opposition United National Party (UNP), said that while the government can count on the UNP support, it must sort out the internal differences of opinion within the ruling coalition.

The leftist JVP or People's Liberation Front, the main partner in the ruling United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA), has strong reservations on the Norwegian-brokered peace process.

They oppose the idea of reviving the stalled peace talks based on the Interim Self Governing Authority (ISGA) blueprint submitted to the previous government by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels at the end of October last year.

The plan, the JVP said, would lead to the separation of the north and east from this island nation.

"Our support is guaranteed but the government and the JVP must come to an understanding on the issue," Peiris said.

Thursday marked the second anniversary of the commencement of direct negotiations between the government and the LTTE rebels.

The Norwegian peace facilitators are making a fresh attempt to revive the peace process in Sri Lanka.

Norwegian peace envoy Erik Solheim visited the rebel-held north town of Kilinochchi on Thursday for talks with the rebel political leadership.

The rebels suspended the peace talks in April last year after six rounds of talks which began in September 2002, seven months after the two sides entered Norwegian-brokered ceasefire.