Wednesday, December 28 2005 20:28 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Colombo: Alarmed at the "high-level of violence" threatening to scuttle the Sri Lankan peace bid, Norway, which brokered the truce between the Government and Tamil Tigers, today (Dec 28, 2005) asked them to meet urgently to discuss ways and means to strengthen implementation of the 2002 ceasefire agreement.

"The high level of violence and the tragic loss of life are putting the ceasefire agreement at risk and will make it very difficult to secure further progress in the peace process," Norway's Minister of International Development Erik Solheim said in a statement.

The Sri Lankan Government and the LTTE have the responsibility for safeguarding the Ceasefire Agreement that went into effect from February 23, 2002, he said.

"The two parties to the ceasefire must meet urgently to discuss ways and means to strengthen the implementation of the agreement. The focus should now be on the need to stop the bloodshed and prevent further loss of life. The ceasefire must be upheld to prevent the further escalation of violence.

"The GOSL (Government of Sri Lanka) and the LTTE should put aside the discussion on venue and meet face to face as soon as possible," Solheim stressed.

About the differences between the Government and Tigers over the venue for talks, he said the two sides should stop squabbling over it.

"The venue for a meeting is of no importance to Norway. What is important to us is that the Government of Sri Lanka and the Tigers meet as soon as possible to discuss the ceasefire and the recent tragic and dangerous developments. There is no time to lose," he said in the statement issued in Oslo and also given to reporters here.