19 January, 2006 - Published 12:54 GMT

'Respect ceasefire' Solheim

The Norwegian mediator in the Sri Lankan peace process, Erik Solheim, has urged the Sri Lankan government and Tamil Tiger rebels to respect a ceasefire ahead of his visit to the country next week.

Solheim, who's the head of the Norwegian mediating team, said there was a need to stabilise the ceasefire which had seen a number of violations in the recent past.

He will meet both the Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapakse and the rebel leader Velupillai Prabhakaran.

There's been growing international concern over a recent upsurge in violence in the country; the government has extended a national state of emergency declared last year.