Colombo, Nov 20: Adopting a conciliatory approach, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe today offered his arch rival President Chandrika Kumaratunga a broader role in the peace process with Tamil rebels in a bid to resolve the ongoing power struggle that has crippled the country for the past two weeks. Reversing its policy of excluding the President and her party from the peace process, the Wickremesinghe government is prepared to forget past and involve Kumaratunga and her people's alliance party in the decision-making, government spokesman G L Peiris told reporters here.

"Vituperative politics should be a part of history," he said. "there should be a role for her excellency and her party in the decision-making process. There is a clamour for it in the country."

Terming the development as "good", a spokesman for the President's office said that the office was awaiting a full transcript of Peiris' news conference.
"The President has all along been saying that she is willing to work together," Janadasa Peiris said. "She has also emphasised the need to let peace process go on," he said.

Bureau Report