Indian spiritual leader offers to facilitate Lankan peace process

Colombo, Apr 9: Indian spiritual leader Ravi Shankar, who is on a four-day visit to Sri Lanka, has offered to facilitate the nogotiations between the government and the LTTE.

He has also expressed willingness to meet elusive rebel chief, Velupillai Prabhakaran.

The founder of the ''Art of Living Foundation'' announced his offer at a public event at the Jaffna Hindu College playground yesterday.

The spiritual leader said that he was ready to meet LTTE Supremo Prbhakaran to facilitate the peace process. When asked what he would discuss with the LTTE leader, he said that he could not reveal anything at this point of time.

Speaking to people here, he said he undertook the visit to Jaffna to heal the trauma of the war and tsunami victims in the region.

''I have come here to take away all your worries and problems. I want to see a smile that never fades on your face,'' Ravi Shankar said.

He addressed an international interfaith conference to combat AIDS here and conducted an interactive session attended by various ministers, and religious leaders.

Ravi Shankar also met opposition leader Ranil Wikremesinghe.

UNI