Sri Lanka's main Opposition on Thursday set a 24-hour deadline for the government to open unity talks to avoid a humiliating defeat of president Chandrika Kumaratunga's minority government.
Former prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who commands the support of a majority in the 225-member parliament, gave the embattled government until tomorrow to enter negotiations and pave the way for a face-saving exit. Wickremesinghe won the backing of the joint Opposition which represents 115 legislators before issuing the ultimatum to Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake who invited the Opposition leader to open formal truce talks.
Wickremesinghe listed three key demands that were essential to end the political crisis which was triggered in June when seven legislators defected from the government and joined the Opposition. In a bid to avoid a humiliating defeat at a no-trust resolution, Kumaratunga on July 10 shut down Parliament until September 7 to give herself time to manoeuvre and win new friends.
However, instead of getting more support, the closure of Parliament has led to deep rifts within the ruling People's Alliance, with three senior ministers openly defying and clashing with the President.
There are many cynics who question the bona fides behind this most recent initiative at achieving rapprochement, Wickremesinghe told the prime minister. Therefore, I would suggest that the proposed discussions be conducted within an agreed time frame. Bureau Report