From correspondents in Karnataka, India, 05:15 PM IST

Bangalore - Former Sri Lankan prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe Thursday flew in here and urged spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar to help bring peace to his island nation.

Since the worst outbreak of violence in four years had gripped Sri Lanka, the opposition United National Party (UNP) leader said it was time for Ravi Shankar 'to build an atmosphere for peace' in his troubled country.

A spokesman for Ravi Shankar's Art of Living organisation, which has a following in nearly 150 countries, said Wickremesinghe's visit was a sudden one.

After a 30-minute meeting and lunch with Ravi Shankar, Wickremesinghe told reporters that emotions were flaring up and violence was on the rise in Sri Lanka.

'My attempt is to request Guruji to build an atmosphere for peace. Guurji can play a role to calm emotions and prevent a war from taking place,' he said.

Ravi Shankar said his representatives were talking to both the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

'I am doing this at the level of an international NGO. Right now the situation is bad and I am praying that the war does not break out.'

Asked how effective Ravi Shankar would be if he tried to bring about peace in Sri Lanka, Wickremesinghe said: 'This can be the beginning of a long process. But we look forward to Guruji to play a decisive role.'

The Art of Living, which has its headquarters here, has been active in Sri Lanka since the December 2004 tsunami. Ravi Shankar visited Sri Lanka, including Colombo and Jaffna, in April.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)