Sri Lanka invites Tigers to talks

Defence officials said security forces Monday found the bodies of two soldiers shot dead by Tamil Tiger guerrillas during an attack on Sunday night in the eastern region of Weli Oya.

Diplomatic sources close to the Norwegian-backed peace process, meanwhile, said Oslo was expecting a response from the Tigers by Tuesday to a request seeking their re-commitment to the truce.

Norway's top peace envoy Erik Solheim asked both Colombo and the Tigers to re-confirm their willingness to continue with the initiative after failing to arrange a face-to-face meeting between the parties 11 days ago in Oslo.

The government's Peace Secretariat, which coordinates with the Norwegians, Monday urged the Tigers to return to the table, either directly or throughOslo's peace facilitator.

"It also urges the LTTE to commit itself to an inclusive peace process that involves all other legitimate stakeholders and contribute towards the formulation of a truly progressive and democratic consensus that would ensure to the Tamil, Muslim and Sinhala ... a just and a durable peace," a government statement said.