Chandrika vows aid deal with Tigers

Kumaratunga was "very committed" to establishing the proposed "joint administrative machinery," her office said in a statement Sunday following her talks here with Clinton Saturday.

"The president said this was not a part of the peace process, but that she believed it would help move the stalled peace process forward."

Norwegian-brokered peace talks remain on hold since April 2003.

Kumaratunga is facing opposition to any deal with the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) from her own coalition partner, the Marxist JVP, or People's Liberation Front, which has threatened to quit.

"The president referred to the resistance to it from some members of the ruling alliance, apprehensions of the (minority) Muslim community and the silence maintained by the main opposition party," Kumaratunga's office said.

Clinton, who visited Sri Lanka as UN special envoy for tsunami relief work, wrapped up his brief tour on Saturday by urging the island's political parties to support Kumaratunga's moves.

Diplomats said Clinton's public remarks put more pressure on the Colombo government to press ahead with the proposed deal that Kumaratunga promised international aid donors two weeks ago but has yet to deliver.

Officials in Kumaratunga's office said she was likely to discuss her plans at a rally later Sunday although there were no immediate signs of an announcement about finalising the deal.