COLOMBO, Jan. 19 (Xinhuanet) -- The Sri Lankan government said that it awaits a positive outcome from the forthcoming peace moves with the Tamil Tiger rebels.

    Nimal Siripala De Silva, minister of health and government spokesman, said "the government will have a positive approach" about a scheduled visit next week by Norwegian Minister of International Development Erik Solheim.

    He is the Norwegian peace envoy in Sri Lanka's internationally backed peace process with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels.

    Solheim is expected here on Jan. 23 along with the LTTE's top peace negotiator Anton Balasingham.

    De Silva said that the government was also looking forward to the visit by the London-based Balasingham and that all current outstanding problems on efforts to revive the talks could be resolved through "mutual cooperation."

    The talks have got stuck on the issue of the venue, with the Tigers insisting on the Norwegian capital of Oslo while the government opting for an Asian capital.

    De Silva said Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse was expected to discuss the issue of talks venue with members of all political parties at a parley convened for Thursday evening.

    "We will make every effort to make the peace process a success," De Silva stressed.

    Escalating violence in the troubled north and east has seriously endangered the near-four-year-old ceasefire.

    The international truce monitors have urged both sides to return to the negotiating table as soon as possible. Enditem