Colombo, Nov 08: Supporters of Sri Lanka's Prime Minister today rejected an appeal by his longtime rival, the country's President, to form a coalition government, saying her recent grab for power had to be reversed before any decisions were made. Justice Minister W J M Lokubandara did not completely dismiss the appeal by President Chandrika Kumaratunga, a fierce rival of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, but said the situation had to first return to normal.
“It is not normal to use force and then call for a coalition government,'' he said, speaking on behalf of the Prime Minister's supporters in the cabinet. “If we are to consider this, let us all go back to our previous positions.''
A power struggle erupted on Tuesday between the Prime Minister and President, throwing the island nation into political crisis and threatening peace efforts with Tamil tiger rebels.
Angered by the Prime Minister's more bullish approach to the peace talks, Kumaratunga fired three powerful cabinet ministers, ordered Parliament suspended for two weeks and briefly declared a state of emergency.
Bureau Report