"I think the process is in an advanced state because now you have had a ceasefire lasting a full year and you have a commitment from the parties to reach agreement," Hume told reporters.

Hume, the former leader of the Social Democratic and Liberal Party of Northern Ireland was visiting the Indian ocean island at the government's invitation.

The visit was aimed at helping the government and the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) benefit from the experience of the power-sharing arrangement in Northern Ireland.

Hume travelled to the rebel-held Kilinochchi district in the war-battered north on Thursday for talks with LTTE leaders. He has also met with government leaders.

"The only way to solve the problem of a divided country is to reach agreement. The only way to reach agreement is through dialogue," Hume said, referring to the Good Friday agreement in his country.

Hume urged that Sri Lanka's peace process be "inclusive".

"When the government and all the parties reach agreement the last word will be with the people. So that the agreement should be put in a referendum to the people."

Sri Lanka and the LTTE have had six rounds of direct negotiations since the process began last September.

The seventh round of talks, aimed at ending the conflict that has claimed more than 60,000 lives since 1972, is to take place in Thailand from April 29 to May 2.

The rebels, who waged a bloody armed conflict to carve out a separate state for the minority Tamil community in the north and east provinces, have dropped their demand for independence. They are now studying a power-sharing system using a federal format.

SPACE.WIRE