COLOMBO, Jan. 22 (Xinhuanet) -- Nicholas Burns, a top U.S. State Department official has arrived in Sri Lanka to push forward the country's peace process, airport officials said Sunday.Burns, the U.S. under secretary of state for political affairs,is on a two-day visit to Sri Lanka and he will meet with SriLankan President Mahinda Rajapakse.

    His visit comes ahead of a crucial visit by Norwegian International Development Minister Erik Solheim who is also the Norwegian special peace envoy on the peace process with the Tamil Tigers.

    Solheim and Burns are to meet here Monday during which Solheimis expected to brief the U.S. official on the current status of the peace process.

    The U.S. government, which has banned the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels, has urged the Tigers to return to the negotiating table by eschewing violence.

    Washington has very clearly denounced the growing violence which has taken nearly 200 lives since the beginning of December2005.

    U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka Jeffrey Lunsted warned the Tigers that there would be a stronger Sri Lankan military if the Tigers do not return to the peace talks as soon as possible. Enditem