Fresh foreign push to salvage Lankan peace

Yasushi Akashi, a special envoy from Japan, Sri Lanka's main financial backer, was here for talks with both sides on the fate of a 4.5 billion dollar aid package pledged to rebuild the war-ravaged nation.

US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Christina Rocca was also in the island encouraging Sri Lankan leaders to push for a resumption of negotiations, Western diplomats said.

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Rocca travelled to the eastern port district of Trincomalee where the Tigers originally wanted to establish the capital of a separate state, but had no contacts with the rebels who Washington classifies as a terrorist group.