February's ceasefire between the government and the Tamil Tigers has brought hopes that one of the world's bloodiest civil wars will finally come to an end.

In the past six months, Sri Lanka has seen huge changes ....Tamils are returning to their homes in the war-torn north and east of the country and Sinhalese people are visiting areas that have been off-limits to them for the past nineteen years.

Charlie Haviland talks to people who've lost their homes and their families in the fighting and asks whether peace talks due to start later this summer can unite this deeply divided country.

But he also encounters a Tamil Tiger who seems only too ready to return to war.

Crossing Continents: Sri Lanka's uneasy peace will be broadcast Thursday 15th August 2002 on BBC Radio 4 at 1100 BST

Repeated on Monday 19th August 2002
on BBC Radio 4 at 2030 BST

Reporter: Charles Haviland Producer: Adele Armstrong Editor: Maria Balinska