Sri Lanka's opposition says it wants the government to speed up peace efforts with Tamil Tiger rebels.

There is no question of a peaceful settlement at any cost. The price is important

Lakshman Kadirgamar, People's Alliance

A spokesman for the People's Alliance (PA), which has been critical of the government's peace strategy, said he hoped a final settlement could be reached within the next year.

"The longer you take, the more likely it would be that positions on the ground will be hardened and then you might find a solution being evolved by the clear passing of time," Lakshman Kadirgamar warned reporters in Colombo.

Kadirgamar spent years dealing with peace process

His comments come a week after government and Tiger negotiators held a first round of talks aimed at ending the bitter 20-year struggle for a minority Tamil homeland.

Both sides and Norwegian peace brokers say the talks will proceed step-by-step - and could take years.

Southern fears

President Kumaratunga, who controls the PA, has backed the government's peace efforts, but is wary of giving too many concessions to the rebels without guarantees of a lasting peace.

Over 60,000 have died in the conflict

Sections of her party are particularly worried by proposals for an interim rebel adminstration in the island's north-east, where they are in control.

Mr Kadirgamar is a former foreign minister who was involved in a failed attempt to get the peace talks off the ground last year.

He said a lengthy period of uncertainty could destabilise the country.

"We've reached a stage where both parties must put it on the table so the public knows their positions. Otherwise apprehension in the south will grow."

'Constructive'

But he promised that his party would not try to derail peace efforts.

"We can indicate our concerns entirely in a constructive way, not with any view to wrecking the peace process.

"The point is, the PA is committed to a peaceful resolution, though not at any cost."

He urged the government not to proceed with a bill aimed at clipping the president's wings.

"The president has said she won't dissolve parliament and that's an adequate safeguard."

Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe fears his arch-rival might use her wide-ranging constitutional powers to call new elections, if she does not like the direction the peace talks take.