Hope for ceasefire dwindles in SL

New Delhi: Sri Lanka's foreign minister, Mangala Samaraweera, is in New Delhi as hopes for a ceasefire in the strife-torn country are diminishing.

Samaraweera met senior leaders of the CPI on Monday and briefed them on the latest developments concerning the fighting in the north-east.

Hopes for a cessation of hostilities have faded after the Sri Lankan army resumed its advance this morning on a reservoir held by Tamil rebels.

The rebels say the army action must stop and have threatened to broaden the conflict.

Samaraweera insists that the government wants the present fighting to end and is committed to a negotiated settlement of Tamil grievances.

"The way out of the crisis in Sri Lanka is only through a negotiated settlement, which will deal with the aspirations of the Tamil people," he said.