Peace broker Norway announced Friday that talks between the Sri Lankan government and Tiger rebels, under threat from a new wave of violence, would go ahead five days later than scheduled.
The negotiations in Geneva were originally due to open on April 19, but the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) said Thursday they wanted more time to discuss matters with their field commanders.
"The parties to the peace process in Sri Lanka have today agreed on a short postponement of the peace talks in Geneva," the Norwegian government said in a statement issued in Colombo.
Norway also said the talks starting April 24 would be shortened to two days instead of three as originally planned.