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BRUSSELS, Monday (AFP) - Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe met European Commission President Romano Prodi and other European Union (EU) officials in Brussels Monday at the start of a European tour to drum up support for the Oslo-backed peace process.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe shakes hands with European Commission President Romano Prodi before a meeting at the EC headquaters in Brussels yesterday.Premier Wickremesinghe was on a one-day visit to the European Union

"I came here to thank the European Commission for all the help they have been giving Sri Lanka, both economic and now political," Wickremesinghe told reporters after meeting Prodi.

"I briefed the President on the political developments in Sri Lanka and our commitment to the peace process, to finding a solution," he said. "We hope talks will start in June or July at the very latest."

Prodi called the Sri Lankan conflict "one of the longest tensions that we have had in our world".

"Once peace is achieved," he said, "that country will be ready for a big jump ahead and the Commission is ready to accompany it with a strategy of progress and long-term participation."

The premier said he and Prodi had also talked about the problem of illegal immigration from Sri Lanka to the European Union and the action they could take together to prevent it.

He said they also discussed improving trade and market access, noting: "Since the time of the Roman empire 2000 years ago we have been trading with Europe. We have depended a lot on European trade."

We are happy that there is a ceasefire in effect in Sri Lanka. This ceasefire should be maintained and it is important that the talks should commence soon, said Dr. Javier Solana, Secretary General of the European Council and High Representative of the Common Foreign and Security Policy of the European Union, in answer to questions asked by media personnel after having talks with the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka.

Prime Minister Wickremesinghe held discussions with Dr. Solana yesterday at the European Council Headquarters in Brussels. The main theme of the discussion was the ongoing peace process of Sri Lanka.

When asked about lifting the ban on the LTTE before peace negotiations begin, he said it is a matter to be considered as the peace talks go on.

He further said that the EU is glad that Norway, a country in the region is playing the role of the facilitator to peace talks. The European Union will be scrutinising the talks and will constantly be in touch with Norway about any support they need, he stated.

Foreign Minister Tyronne Fernando, Secretary to the Prime Minister Mr. Bradman Weerakoon and the Sri Lankan Ambassador in Belgium also joined the Prime Minister in this discussion.

As Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe held meetings in Brussels, Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister Vidar Helgesen held talks in Sri Lanka with President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga. Helgesen was due later to leave for London for a meeting with Premier Wickremesinghe and British Prime Minister Tony Blair on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, our London correspondent Victor Jayanetti reported: Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who left Colombo on Saturday on an official visit to Britain and Belgium, is to face a very tight schedule in London.

While in London, he is due to hold talks with the British Prime Minister and Britain's International Development Secretary Clare Short.

The PM is scheduled to meet the Sri Lankan High Commissioner Faiz Mustapha, on the day the High Commissioner is scheduled to present his credentials to Her Majesty the Queen.

Speaking to the 'Daily News' Azahim Mohamed, president of the UNP UK branch said the Prime Minister will be meeting the members of the branch to discuss the present peace negotiations with the LTTE. He emphasised that the branch felt very strongly that certain misunderstandings about the expatriates that need to be cleared.

He further said the expatriate community in England were well aware of the Ceasefire Agreement and those keen on understanding the full text have full access as there are many Sri Lankan newspapers published in London as well as many Websites that carry full details.