JVP trying to thwart aid deal: Chandrika

President Chandrika Kumara-tunga dismissed claims by the Marxist JVP, or People's Liberation Front, about the deal to share billions of dollars in international donor aid with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

"This (joint mechanism) does not threaten Sri Lanka's national security or territorial integrity as perceived by some," Kumaratunga said in a live phone interview with state-run radio.

The JVP last week vowed to quit the coalition on June 16 if the president goes ahead with a tsunami aid deal.

The party, which has 39 seats in the 225-member parliament, holds the balance of power for the government, which has a slim majority of five seats.

Kumaratunga has pledged to set up a joint mechanism to distribute international aid in areas controlled by the LTTE and among other survivors of the December 26 tsunamis that killed nearly 31,000 people and initially left one million homeless.

Meanwhile, India on Saturday said it was willing to play a "positive" and "supportive" role in efforts by Sri Lanka to bring about political settlement to the ethnic problem but made it clear that a resolution has to emerge from the political parties and the people of the island nation.

This was conveyed by External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh during meetings he had with leaders across the political spectrum during his three-day stay in Colombo, Indian officials said.

The Sri Lankan leaders shared the view that there should be no relapse into violence, they said.

He called on President Chandr-ika Kumaratunga, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse and held wide-ranging discussions with his Sri Lankan counterpart Lakshman Kadirgamar on stepping up bilateral cooperation in a wide sphere.