Final talks to end Colombo deadlock fail

[TamilNet, Monday, 15 December 2003, 13:38 GMT]
A last ditch attempt to overcome the forty one day dead lock between Sri Lanka's President and Prime Minister failed Monday, senior officials in Colombo said. Spokesmen for the President and the PM tried to play down the impasse. "Both sides appear to have come to the conclusion that eventually a general election is the only viable end to this deadlock", a source close to the PM said.

The special representatives of the President and the PM said suggestions by both sides which were put forward during the meeting between special representatives of President Kumaratunga and the PM Mr. Wickremesinghe would be given to the President for consideration.

Prime Minister Wickremesinghe told the party's annual convention this weekend that he is prepared to face a fresh poll.