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
