The Sri Lanka government which has just won its military battle against Tamil Tiger rebels is to give power to provinces as a solution to the island's conflict, government officials said Thursday.

Both Sri Lanka and India in separate statements outlined the outcome of the discussions held Thursday between Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse and visiting Indian Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon and National Security Advisor R. K. Narayanan.

"Both sides emphasized the urgent necessity of arriving at a lasting political settlement in Sri Lanka. Towards this end, the government of Sri Lanka indicated that it will proceed with implementation of the 13th Amendment," an Indian embassy statement said.

The 13th amendment to the Sri Lankan constitution was adopted in 1987 as a result of direct Indian intervention in Sri Lankan conflict between the government troops and the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam).

However, the LTTE has refused the 13th amendment in past time claiming it betrayed Tamils' right in Sri Lanka.

Under the 13th amendment, provincial councils for Sri Lanka's nine provinces were set up, but arguments have been raised about the central government's unwillingness to devolve powers to councils.

The Indian government with domestic political compulsions over the Sri Lankan conflict has been urging the government to fully implement the 13th amendment.

Narayanan's and Menon's visit was the first high level contact between the two nations after Sri Lanka declared the end to the nearly three-decade-old war with the LTTE on Tuesday.