India on Monday expressed 'deep concern' at the recent escalation in violence in Lanka and asked the parties concerned to 'scrupulously adhere' to the Ceasefire Agreement in letter and spirit.

Welcoming the Lankan government's policy of restraint and its intention to restore normalcy in the affected areas, a spokesman of the external affairs ministry hoped that the parties concerned would make every effort to commence talks at the earliest and taking the stalled peace process forward.

Violence is not the answer to any problem and political dialogue is the only way to resolve outstanding issues, the spokesman said, adding that the Lankan government had conveyed its policy of restraint and its intention to restore normalcy in the affected areas.

He said it was India's conviction that violence is not the answer to any problem but political dialogue is the only way to resolve outstanding issues.