145;Lanka talks may be delayed146;

The stalled peace talks between the Sri Lankan government and Tamil Tigers rebels could take time to revive, Norwegian peace brokers said on...

The stalled peace talks between the Sri Lankan government and Tamil Tigers rebels could take time to revive, Norwegian peace brokers said on Sunday while warning both sides to honour a truce.

Norway8217;s Deputy Foreign Minister Vidar Helgesen who held talks with President Chandrika Kumaratunga said there could be delays in getting the two sides back to the table. 8216;8216;It might take some time before the parties are in a position to return to the negotiation table,8217;8217; Helgesen said in a statement.

8216;8216;In the meantime it is important for both sides to respect and abide by the cease-fire agreement and to work closely with the truce monitors.8217;8217; Helgesen opened talks with Kumaratunga on renewing Oslo8217;s peace brokering efforts in Sri Lanka where 60,000 people have died in three decades of ethnic violence.

Kumaratunga in a separate statement said she told the Norwegians that there should be speedy rehabilitation work in the island8217;s embattled northern and eastern regions with the full participation of the Tamil Tigers.

8216;8216;The exchange of views was constructive and cordial. The discussions focussed on a range of issues related to the modalities and substance of the negotiations process and the need to commence development work in the north and the east without delay, with the full participation of the LTTE,8217;8217; Kumaratunga8217;s office said in a statement. Sri Lanka8217;s Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar also joined the talks which included another Norwegian envoy, Erik Solheim at the central hill resort of Nuwara Eliya.

8216;8216;The President and Helgesen had initial consultations on all aspects of the peace process,8217;8217; a Norwegian Embassy statement said. 8216;8216;The Norwegian delegation will continue the consultations with the LTTE Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam on Monday to explore possibilities of recommencing direct peace negotiations between the government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE.8217;8217;

Helgesen also had informal talks with former premier Ranil Wickremesinghe, a key figure in the peace initiative of the previous government, officials said. Helgesen was due to leave today for a visit to Indonesia, but Solheim will stay on for talks with the Tamil Tiger rebels, diplomats said.