Colombo, Nov 04: Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga's sacking of key ministers and two-week suspension of Parliament today are seen as a prelude to snap elections and a blow to Norway's bid to broker peace. Kumaratunga, whose party is in opposition in Parliament, dismissed three ministers including Defence Minister Tilak Marapana, whom she had earlier accused of granting too many concessions to Tamil Tiger rebels.
Western and Asian diplomats said they believed the political crisis between Kumaratunga and the cohabitation government will seriously impact Norway's attempts to revive the island's stalled peace process.
A senior government minister said he expected Kumaratunga to call fresh elections after the suspension of Parliament lapses on November 19.
"As much as the government has few options to check the President, she too can't do much to run an administration like this," said the minister who declined to be named. "The only way out is a snap election."
He said the government was ready to face an election as it was confident of improving its majority, but the party would face the vote with Kumaratunga controlling the vital state media, security forces and the police.
A government under Kumaratunga's party was elected in October 2000 but collapsed in a year amid defections. In December 2001 her arch rival Ranil Wickremesinghe became Prime Minister by winning new parliamentary polls.
Bureau Report