Colombo, May 26: The Sri Lankan government today offered greater powers to Tamil Tiger rebels over reconstruction work in war-ravaged areas of the northeast in a bid to break the impasse in peace talks. Norway's special peace envoy Erik Solheim, meanwhile, was meeting with government peace delegates after discussions with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on ending the deadlock, diplomatic sources said.

Though the government's fresh proposal does not make any reference to the rebels' demand for an independent administration, the government has offered a "mechanism for development of the north and east," a group devoid of political powers. The group would be empowered with direct decision-making and implementing powers and would be jointly chaired by the government and the rebels, reports said.

Diplomatic sources said Solheim was most likely to travel to the rebel-held Kilinochchi town tomorrow to hand over the government proposal. The Tamil Tigers suspended their participation in Norwegian-brokered peace talks on April 21 after complaining of slow progress in delivery on promises made to them by the government during six rounds of talks.

Bureau Report