The Bush administration has once again expressed alarm at the recent upsurge in the violence in Sri Lanka between the government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and has said that the United States is doing what it can to get both sides back to a ceasefire.

"So we have been quite alarmed by the upsurge in violence in Sri Lanka, and we are doing what we can to help get back to a state of a cease-fire," State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters on Tuesday at a briefing.

Washington also expressed sadness at children being affected by the conflict, especially the death of dozens of them as a result of bombings.

"Sadly... the victims of terror and violence are very often children, the innocents, and we have been working with those who have been deeply involved with the Sri Lanka issue trying to get back to a cease-fire. You need to get back to a cease-fire before you can actually try to make progress and come to some final settlement," he said.