Colombo: Sri Lanka's new Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse today (April 6, 2004) called for greater Indian involvement in the island's peace process with Tamil Tiger rebels.

Rajapakse, 58, said he wanted neighbouring India to play a role in the island's peace efforts, but did not specify how he wanted New Delhi to get involved.

"We must get India's involvement," he told reporters at his home here just before leaving for his official swearing-in ceremony. He did not elaborate.

India had been supportive of the Norwegian-backed peace process, but has refused a hands-on approach after New Delhi's bitter experience of deploying troops in the island and ending up fighting rebels between 1987 and 1990.

President Chandrika Kumaratunga last night appointed Rajapakse as the new Premier heading off a struggle within her Freedom Alliance for the top job, party officials said.