Colombo, May 09: Sri Lanka's new foreign minister Lakshman Kadirgamar will begin a visit to the United States tomorrow for talks on trade and the stalled peace process with Tamil rebels, the foreign ministry said. Kadirgamar is due to hold talks with US Secretary of State Colin Powell and National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice, the foreign ministry said in a statement today.

"He will discuss ... The status of the ongoing ceasefire agreement and prospects for resumption of peace talks," the ministry said referring to a ceasefire between Sri Lankan troops and Tamil Tiger rebels.


He will also hold talks at the pentagon on "the ongoing defence and security relationships and related issues between the two countries," it said.

Kadirgamar will visit the US Coast Guard cutter courageous which Washington gave to the Sri Lankan Navy during the tenure of the island's previous right-wing government.

Kadirgamar's Marxist-backed freedom alliance narrowly won April 2 elections called early by President Chandrika Kumaratunga.

The freedom alliance, which is led by the President, had been highly critical of the previous administration's pro-US stance on Iraq and World Trade Organisation issues.
Bureau Report