U.S. envoy pushes Sri Lanka peace

The conflict between government forces and Tamil rebels has resulted in the death of more then 64,000 people

JAFFNA, Sri Lanka -- A high-ranking U.S. diplomatic delegation is in Sri Lanka to boost the fragile peace process between the government and Tamil Tiger rebels.

Richard Armitage, the U.S. deputy secretary of state, arrived at Palali Air Base on the northern Jaffna Peninsula after a flight from the capital, Colombo.

The one-day visit begins the first leg of a five-nation Asian tour that will also take him to India, Pakistan, China, and Japan.

While in Jaffna, Armitage visited Sarasalai -- where there was heavy fighting in 2000 between government soldiers and Tamil Tiger rebels -- a place littered with mines and unexploded ordinances.

A U.S. mine clearing operation is underway in the region. An estimated 1 million mines are believed to be buried in heavily populated northern Sri Lanka, planted by both sides during the civil war.

"It's a keen reminder that enough is enough," Armitage said, adding the United States will push for a peaceful solution.

Seeking support

Last month Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe met with U.S. President George W. Bush in Washington to seek support in bringing peace to his country.

"What is significant is his (Armitage) visit comes so quickly after the prime minister's visit to Washington for talks with President Bush," Bradman Weerakoon, the secretary to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, told Reuters news agency.

Prior to the current eight-month ceasefire, the Sri Lankan government battled for nearly 20 years in a civil war with the rebels, who have been fighting for an independent homeland in the north and east of the island nation.

While backing the peace process in Sri Lanka, U.S. policy does not support a Tamil homeland or associated terrorism to achieve that goal.

Armitage plans to fly back to Colombo Thursday afternoon for a meeting with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

-- CNN Correspondent Kasra Naji contributed to this report