Tamils, Sinhalese must share power for Lanka peace: US

The US has asked Colombo to initiate a "power sharing arrangement" among Tamils, Sinhalese and others for a "lasting peace" as well as to heal the wounds of the conflict that killed thousands.

With the end of civil war in Sri Lanka after military victory over the LTTE, the US has asked Colombo to initiate a "power sharing arrangement" among Tamils, Sinhalese and others for a "lasting peace" as well as to heal the wounds of the conflict that killed thousands.

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"To truly defeat terrorism, the Government of Sri Lanka needs to begin to heal the wounds of the conflict and work toward building a democratic, prosperous, tolerant and united Sri Lanka and work toward justice and reconciliation for both sides," the State Department spokesman, Ian Kelly, said in a statement.

"A lasting peace in Sri Lanka depends on Sinhalese, Tamils and all other Sri Lankans working together to achieve new power sharing arrangements that safeguard and promote the rights of all Sri Lankans," Kelly said.

Welcoming the cessation of fighting, the United States, however, said it remains deeply concerned of the welfare of the hundreds of thousands of internally displaced persons uprooted by the recent fighting.