India expressed concern Wednesday at increasing violence in Sri Lanka and called for an early resumption of peace talks between the Tamil rebels and the Sri Lankan government, according to DPA. "They said that the talks which are aimed at strengthening the ceasefire should begin at the earliest," said Indian foreign ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna on talks between Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and visiting Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse focusing on the peace process and bilateral issues. Rajapakse has sought India's greater involvement in the peace process. India was "deeply concerned" at the recent escalation of violence and repeated violations of the ceasefire, Sarna said. Spiralling violence in Sri Lanka is threatening to derail the peace negotiations between the government and the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). More than 50 Sri Lankan soldiers have been killed in attacks by the Tigers since November. "This is a trend that can only undermine the search for a negotiated political settlement which is critical for the maintenance of peace and for the resumption of talks which are aimed at finding a just solution to Sri Lanka's ethnic problems," Sarna added.
