"No agreement on peace process with PM" - Kumaratunge

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 February 2004, 23:06 GMT]
Sri Lanka Prime Minister Mr.Ranil Wickremasinghe's insistence to take control of the defense ministry is the main obstacle in concluding an agreement to end the current political impasse, said the Presidential Secretariat in a media release issued Tuesday. Speculation is rife in Colombo that the dissolution of parliament is to be announced at any moment, political sources in Colombo said.

"While there has been agreement on several areas during the discussion held between Presidential delegation led by Ms.Kumaratunge's senior advisor Mr.Mano Tittawela and Sri Lanka government delegation led by United National Party Chairman Mr.Malik Samarawickrema, there has been no agreement between the parties concerned on the peace process," said the Presidential secretariat media release.

"President still maintains that it is not possible for her to alienate the subject of defense under the current constitution. She still insists that Prime Minister should handle the peace process and she, as the Defense Minister and President, would extend fullest co-operation to support the peace process," said the Presidential release.

Unfortunately the Prime Minister has continued to maintain that the peace process could not be handled without the defense ministry, the release said.

Inspite of President's goodwill, sincerity and flexibility to resolve the issue Prime Minister's insistence of taking control of the defense ministry has become the main obstacle to find a comprise to the current political crisis, said the press release issued by the Presidential Secretariat.