Colombo: In a last ditch effort to save Sri Lanka's faltering peace bid, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on June 19 offered an interim administrative council to the island's North East, conceding to one of the rebels' key demands to revive the stalled Norwegian-backed talks.

In an address to the nation, Wickremesinghe said his government would establish an "interim administrative council that protects the rights of all communities and allows a role for the Tamil Tiger rebels".

The Prime Minister made it clear that the council would be set up in consultation with the Tigers, but however did not give details of the powers or its functions.

"We expect a responsible and active participation from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). It is for this purpose that we hope to establish the council with the participation of the LTTE," he said.

The Norwegian-brokered talks remained deadlocked since April following the LTTE's demand of an interim council with political powers before a final settlement to the conflict which has killed over 60,000 people since 1972.

Wickremesinghe said his government was committed to opening negotiations with the LTTE on the establishment of the proposed interim administrative council.

"To resolve the present crisis and enter peace talks is the responsibility of the LTTE," Wickremesinghe said. "I am confident they will honour their responsibility."

Wickremesinghe also sought the active participation of the LTTE in carrying out reconstruction and rehabilitation work in the Northern and Eastern regions.

He also assured that foreign money pledged by aid donors for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the island's North-East would not be spent elsewhere.

PTI