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PM warns of anarchy

Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe talks to the media before a luncheon meeting at the American Enterprise Institute during his visit to Washington, on Tuesday. — Reuters photo

Colombo, November 4
The Lankan Prime Minister accused the President of seeking “chaos and anarchy” and endangering Sri Lanka’s peace process with Tamil rebels today, after she sacked three ministers, suspended Parliament and sent troops around the capital.

“The irresponsible and precipitous action of the President is aimed at plunging the country into chaos and anarchy,” Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said in a statement from Washington, where he is on an official visit.

Wickremesinghe said: “The irresponsible and precipitous action of the President” will not deter his administration from its efforts to make a lasting peace with Tamil rebels.

“I, therefore, call upon all of the people, the armed forces, police and the public service to remain calm and vigilant in the face of this deliberate attempt to endanger the peace process.

Wickremesinghe, who was to meet with US President George W. Bush today to secure further US support for Sri Lanka’s peace process, will stay on for the scheduled meeting, the statement said. — AP

India surprised at developments in Lanka

New Delhi, November 4
India tonight expressed surprise over the political developments in Sri Lanka where President Chandrika Kumaratunga sacked three key ministers and suspended Parliament and hoped the situation would not trigger a constitutional crisis in the island nation.

“We are surprised at the sudden political developments in Sri Lanka today. We hope that the situation does not provoke a constitutional crisis which would impact on the political stability in Sri Lanka and on the ongoing peace process (between the island nation government and LTTE),” External Affairs Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna said.

WASHINGTON: The USA is closely monitoring the escalating political crisis in Sri Lanka, a senior official said today, a day before President George W. Bush is due to meet Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe at the White House.

“We are watching it closely,” said the senior State Department official on the condition of anonymity. Officials pointed out that though Ms Kamaratunga had exploited the absence of her rival Wickremesinghe, she appeared to be acting within her constitutional rights. — PTI, AFP