The pro-rebel Uthayan newspaper in an editorial posted on the LTTE website, said the Sinhalese majority had all but voted for war by failing to elect ex-premier Ranil Wickremesinghe, who began the current peace process in 2002.
"Through electing a head who refused to accept that a just and permanent solution to one of the peoples of this island is an absolute necessity, the Sinhala nation has exposed its innermost feelings," the Uthayan said.
"Majoritarian chauvinism has come shining through."
In his campaign, Rajapakse called for an overhaul of the Norway-backed talks with the LTTE while Wickremesinghe wanted to continue the process. Peace talks broke off in April 2003, but a fragile ceasefire has remained in place.
Rajapakse's main Marxist backer, the JVP, or People's Liberation Front, also wants an overhaul, including the removal of international truce monitors, whom they accuse of siding with the rebels.
On Sunday, an LTTE spokesman said the group would not comment on Rajapakse's offer until Tiger supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran makes his annual policy statement next Sunday.
"All policy matters relating to the new president and the peace talks will be addressed by our leader on martyrs' day on November 27," LTTE spokesman Daya Master told AFP at his political headquarters of Kilinochchi.
Tamil civilians in this Tiger-held area, 330 kilometres (206 miles) north of the capital Colombo were not allowed to vote in what poll monitors said was organised boycott enforced by the guerrillas.
The LTTE's silence on talks has led to concern of a return to fighting in an ethnic conflict between the majority Sinhalese and the separatists that has claimed more than 60,000 live since 1972.
Tensions rose in August with the assassination of foreign minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, which the government linked to the rebels, a claim they denied.
Former Sri Lankan air force chief and political analyst Harry Gunatillake said the Tigers had actually wanted the moderate candidate to lose to a hawk to strengthen their case for staying away from the peace process.
"I am now convinced they may want to withdraw from the peace process," Gunatillake said. "They are already preparing for hostilities. I think by March or April things could get messy."
Rajapakse, in sharp contrast to his tough pre-election rhetoric, sounded conciliatory in his inaugural address to the nation as head of state and commander in chief of the armed forces.
"I want to state the dedication of my government to upholding the ceasefire (but) I am also ready to review the ceasefire agreement," he said.
"From this moment I will work towards my goal of making a new Sri Lanka," he said in Sinhalese. "I will try to achieve honourable peace for all. We will discuss peace talks with the LTTE and all political parties."
The Uthayan editorial, however, said that Rajapakse's previously stated rejection of a separate federal state for the Tamils did not bode well for the peace process. "There is no space to talk of federal solution," it said.
A former Norwegian peace broker said Rajapakse faces problems in calling for peace talks while ruling out one of the key demands of the rebels, which is to administer their own semi-autonomous state.
"The situation could be very difficult," Development Aid Minister Erik Solheim told Norwegian news agency NTB. - AFP
-Amal Jayasinghe: win98win@gmail.com
