By Frances Harrison BBC correspondent in Colombo

Sri Lanka's former foreign minister has said there is no guarantee that peace talks between the government and Tamil Tiger rebels will take place.

One cannot discount the possibility that the parties will never sit down to talks

Lakshman Kadirgama, ex-foreign minister

Lakshman Kadirgama told journalists that he felt there was currently a hiatus in the peace process and the longer it continued the more dangerous it would be.

He admits that the current ceasefire has by and large held in terms of no fighting.

But Mr Kadirgama thinks the government was rushed into an agreement which is flawed and problems are now beginning to surface.

Interim administration

When in power Lakshman Kadirgama spent many years dealing with the peace process and then the introduction of the Norwegians as mediators.

Mr Kadirgama spent years dealing with peace process

He believes there is a possibility both sides may never be able to sit down together for peace talks.

And he is concerned about the government's intention to discuss an interim administration for the conflict areas before a final political settlement is decided.

Mr Kadirgama says an interim administration is just a step on the way to something else and should not allowed to slide into a permanent situation without resolving the main issues.

Changing stand

But the main opposition party, the People's Alliance, seems to have shifted its position on the issue of de-proscription of the rebels.

Earlier, they had said peace talks must make progress first.

Now they are saying it is merely a question of linking it to the start of talks - something the current government has already done.

Overall, People's Alliance leaders say they support a negotiated settlement - although some of their members have shared a common platform with the leftist JVP party at meetings opposing the peace process.

One opposition figure explained it by saying both parties have a shared commitment to the unitary status of their country.

But it looks as if the main opposition party is waiting to see what happens with the peace process before it takes a firm position for or against it.