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British press hails the new PM

the British press seems to be highly excited about the political developments in Sri Lanka and in two separate articles have announced the election of Ranil Wickremesinghe as the new prime minister.

The 'Metro' with a circulation of over 350,000 carried a story under the caption 'Bitter enemies to share power' and the story goes as 'Sri Lanka: President Chandrika Kumaratunga swore-in her long term political rival as Prime Minister yesterday. Mrs. Kumaratunga will now have to work closely with Ranil Wickremesinghe. Their rivalry goes back to the time when the President's mother - then in power - nationalised Sri Lanka's biggest media group, a Wickremesinghe family business. Although the inauguration is usually televised, the president banned TV from yesterday's swearing-in of the new prime minister, whose party won last week's elections.

In a more displayed article 'The Daily Telegraph' had their story under the caption "President swears in rival". The article by Tim Johnston said, "Sri Lanka's President Chandrika Kumaratunga yesterday swore-in her arch rival as prime minister after his United National Front alliance won last week's general election. More than 60 people died during the election campaign. Political debate over the state of the island's economy and how to bring the 18 year war against the Tamil Tigers to a peaceful solution was over shadowed by personal vendettas and allegations of corruption.

In a reflection of the animosity between President Kumaratunga and Ranil Wickremesinghe, yesterday's swearing in ceremony was not broadcast by the state run television stations, which are under Mrs. Kumaratunga's control.

A camera crew from a station run by Mr. Wickremesinghe was stopped from entering by the presidential bodyguards. Political differences have been exacerbated by personal dislike. Mrs. Kumaratunga's mother, who was then Prime Minister, nationalised Mr. Wickremesinghe's family newspaper publishing business. Mr. Wickremesinghe has promised to reverse the hard line taken by President Kumaratunga's People's Alliance on the Tamil Tigers. Mr. Wickremesinghe has said he will restart talks with the Tigers and sort out the economy. But his first challenge will be to restore the civil order shattered by the bitterly contested election.

Mrs. Kumaratunga will remain President until 2005 and holds wide ranging powers to name members of the Cabinet and suspend Parliament.

A retired Sri Lanka diplomat living in London told the Sunday Observer that Ranil Wickremesinghe is held in high esteem by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the British Government would extend their full co-operation to the new government.

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