US Secretary of State Colin Powell said Friday the presence of the US marines in Sri Lanka was no hindrance to Sri Lanka's peace process with the Tamil Tiger rebels.

"It is a humanitarian effort" Powell told reporters in Colombo on Friday at the end of his very short visit to the island to assess the Tsunami tidal wave devastation.

Powell toured the Tsunami devastated town of Galle in the south of the country during his four-hour stay.

He held talks with the Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga and the main opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Powell said "the destruction is significant and the US is in solidarity with Sri Lanka". The US Secretary of State pledged additional 10 million dollars of assistance toward Sri Lanka's post-Tsunami reconstruction effort making it a total of 25 million dollars.

Part of some 1,400 US marines that are to be deployed have commenced their operation in the island.

A multi purpose assault ship, five hovercraft and 20 helicopters provide logistical support to the marines who are based near the Colombo international airport and the southern portof Galle.

Powell was the first of many foreign dignitaries to arrive in Sri Lanka over the weekend following the Tsunami destruction on Dec. 26.

The South Korean Prime Minister also arrived in the afternoon followed by the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan who arrived here late evening.

(Xinhua News Agency January 8, 2005)