LTTE for India role in peace bid; Norway doesn’t make headway

Balasingham did not elaborate on his remark ‘‘LTTE favours India promoting the peace process’’. However, it came amid calls from the new Colombo government to have a greater Indian involvement in the peace bid.

Diplomats noted that New Delhi had already asked Colombo to spell out how it wanted India to get involved. India has promised to put together an aid and loan package to help rebuild the island’s embattled northern and eastern regions.

Meanwhile, Norway’s latest shuttle diplomacy failed to secure an agreement on restarting Sri Lanka’s stalled peace talks, but the warring sides pledged their commitment to a political settlement, officials said.

Norway’s Foreign Minister Jan Petersen returned to Colombo today after talks with LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran, on resuming negotiations, but there was no deal. ‘‘Some issues need to be discussed further before negotiations can start,’’ the Norwegian Embassy said in a brief statement after separate talks with Prabhakaran as well as President Kumaratunga.