The Marxist JVP, or People's Liberation Front, said the party was "flexible" in helping the government carry forward the Norwegian-brokered peace process, which has been stalled since April last year.

The JVP had been militantly opposed to a proposal by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to set up an Interim Self Governing Authority in the island's war-torn northeast ahead of a final deal.

"Every government had adapted to the changing needs of the time," said Lands Minister Anura Dissanayake, a senior member of the JVP.

"What we are saying is that we can have talks on an interim administration linked to a final settlement," Dissanayake told reporters.

The JVP, which gives crucial support to President Chandrika Kumaratunga's government, had earlier said it would only accept an interim administration after a final peace deal had been struck.

Norway warned last week that Sri Lanka should do more to revive talks and work towards ending the ethnic conflict, which has claimed more than 60,000 lives since 1972.

Dissanayake asked the LTTE also to show "flexibility" and resume talks.

"To show flexibility is not to kill political opponents and other rivals," Dissanayake said, referring to a spate of killings blamed on the Tigers in recent weeks.

Kumaratunga's office said _ednesday that she was ready to discuss the Tigers' proposal for self-rule "alongside the talks to reach a final solution acceptable to all communities."

She had earlier described the Tiger proposal as a "stepping stone to a separate state" for the Tamil minority. However, she softened her stand last month, according to officials close to the peace process.