Sri Lanka says it has received an offer of peace talks from Tamil Tiger rebels.
The head of the government Peace Secretariat Palith Kohona said Sunday the offer was conveyed through a Nordic ceasefire monitoring mission and had been accepted. He said officials are waiting for the Tigers to respond.
Meanwhile, Sri Lankan troops and Tamil Tiger rebels continued to trade artillery fire Sunday after at least 177 people were killed in fierce battles Saturday.
Military officials say there are also sporadic ground clashes as the army conducts clearing operations.
The fighting continues a day after the deputy head of the government's Peace Secretariat, Ketheesh Loganathan, was killed at his home in a suburb of the capital, Colombo.
Some information for this report was provided by Reuters and AP.