Sri Lanka's new prime minister was sworn into office today and said hardline President Chandrika Kumaratunga was now in charge of reviving peace talks with Tamil rebels.
"They [talks] should start as soon as possible," Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse told reporters as he left his house for the swearing-in ceremony. "We need peace."
He said Mr Kumaratunga would be in charge of the peace process once the new government takes over after proving its majority in parliament, which is due to convene on April 22nd.
Talks with the Tamil Tigers, fighting for two decades for a separate Tamil state in the north and east of the island, broke down last April, although a two-year-old truce has held.