Wednesday, December 28 2005 15:22 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Amid Sri Lanka's desire to see India play increased role in its peace process, visiting President Mahinda Rajapakse and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today (Dec 28, 2005) held extensive talks on a wide range of issues.

Singh and Rajapakse reviewed bilateral relations and explored ways of enhancing mutual cooperation in various fields, particularly in economic field, official sources said.

The Sri Lankan peace process is understood to have figured in the discussions.

Ahead of the meeting, Rajapakse said India has always been supporting the peace process in his country and hoped that New Delhi would continue to do so.

Speaking at the Ceremonial Reception accorded to him at the Rashtrapati Bhavan here, he said the two countries were working on Comprehensive Economic Agreement and a number of initiatives have been taken in this regard.

Rajapakse, on his first trip abroad after being elected President last month, will also call on President A P J Abdul Kalam and some ministers during his three-day stay in Delhi. He will visit Kochi and Chennai before returning home.

On the eve of his visit, Rajapakse had said in Colombo that he would seek greater involvement of New Delhi in supporting island's peace efforts to end three decades of ethnic bloodshed.

He said he expected India to have an involvement similar to what the quartet known as co-chairs; US, European Union, Japan and Norway has in supporting peace efforts.

The quartet has led international efforts in raising money in support of island's peace efforts.

Prior to his return home, Rajapakse will visit Kochi and Chennai.