End violence or risk aid

Donors led by Japan pledged 4.5 billion dollars in 2003 as an incentive for the island to end three decades of ethnic conflict, but more than 600 people have died since December in defiance of a ceasefire.

Japan, the European Union, Norway and the United States called on both Colombo and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to "take immediate steps to reverse the deteriorating situation and put the country back on the road to peace."

"The solutions to the problem cannot be brought through conflict -- the history of Sri Lanka shows that war is not winnable for either side and simply causes immense suffering to citizens," they said a statement after talks here.

"The international community remains committed to its supporting role agreed three years ago, but it turns to the government and the LTTE to deliver on their side of the bargain if war is to be avoided."

Yasushi Akashi, Japan's peace envoy to Sri Lanka, said the donors wanted to employ a "carrot and stick" approach to jumpstart the peace process.

"Our message is clear," Akashi told AFP. "If they do a good thing, the international community will respond to it favourably and they can benefit. If they disturb the peace, we will respond severely."

Four previous attempts to broker peace have collapsed in Sri Lanka, where more than 60,000 people have died in the conflict since 1972.

Scandinavians monitoring the Norwegian-brokered 2002 ceasefire said more than half of the people killed since December have been civilians.