The negotiations in Geneva were originally due to open on April 19, but the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) said Thursday they wanted more time to discuss matters with their field commanders.
"The parties to the peace process in Sri Lanka have today agreed on a short postponement of the peace talks in Geneva," the Norwegian government said in a statement issued in Colombo.
Norway also said the talks starting April 24 would be shortened to two days instead of three as originally planned.
The agreement came shortly after Sri Lanka's main financial backers condemned the latest violence in the Indian Ocean island and urged all parties to stick to the timetable for peace talks.
Norway, Japan, the United States and the European Union -- who spearheaded a 2003 donors' conference in Tokyo -- voiced "grave concern about the worsening situation in Sri Lanka and strongly condemn the recent acts of violence.
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"The co-chairs strongly urge the government of Sri Lanka and LTTE to meet