M A I N   N E W S

Chandrika lifts Emergency
Calls for setting up national government

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who was on an official visit to the United States, speaks to the media on his arrival in Colombo on Friday. — Reuters photo

Colombo, November 7
Amid a continuing power struggle, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe returned home today, pledging to reopen Parliament and reviving the peace process as his bitter political rival President Chandrika Kumaratunga withdrew the controversial state of Emergency she had imposed two days ago.

“I will see that Parliament is re-summoned immediately to continue the peace process,” Mr Wickremesinghe told reporters on his arrival at the airport here from an official visit to Washington.

Hours before Mr Wickremesinghe’s return to a tumultuous welcome by his supporters, the President withdrew the state of Emergency.

Government chief printer Neville Nanayakkara said the President had ordered him not to release the official gazette notification imposing the Emergency.

“There is no state of Emergency,” Mr Nanayakkara said. “The President has revoked the state of Emergency.”

However, Mr Nanayakkara said Ms Kumaratunga had decided to promulgate regulations under the Public Security Ordinance to give power to the security forces to carry out countrywide search operations.

Meanwhile, Ms Kumaratunga today urged all political parties to join her in forming a national government.

“I call upon all parties in Parliament... to join me to form a grand alliance... with the objective of forming a government of national reconciliation,” she said in a televised address to the nation.

She said Sri Lanka’s security had been placed in “great danger” by Mr Wickremesinghe’s government.

The Norwegian-led peace process with the Tamil Tiger rebels would continue but under strict terms, she said. — Agencies