Violence derails SL peace process

Colombo: Peace talks in Sri Lanka are just around the corner, but with a curfew on in parts of the country, the peace process may just be derailed.

Though the curfew has been relaxed in the violence-hit Sri Lankan port city of Galle on Thursday, security remains tight amid fears of communal clashes.

Meanwhile, US envoy Richard Boucher is in Colombo to hold peace talks between the government and the LTTE.

There has been increased international diplomatic activity in Colombo in the wake of the increasing violence in the country this week.

On Wednesday, Japanese peace envoy Yasushi Akashi met the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse, but his plans to meet the Tamil rebels were thwarted due to the LTTE suicide attack on the Sri Lankan naval base on the same day.

The LTTE bombing in Galle was the second such suicide attack on the Sri Lankan navy this week.

The peace dialogue has been postponed to October 28 in the wake of the violence.