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President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga yesterday invited Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to discuss the current political situation in the country.

During the meeting the President will seek the views of the Prime Minister and senior members of the United National Party on her call for a Grand Alliance of all national and patriotic forces with the objective of forming a Government of National Reconstruction and Reconciliation, the Presidential Secretariat said.

Later in the week the President will invite leaders of other political parties represented in Parliament and hold discussions on the proposed Grand Alliance.

The President's letter to the Prime Minister: "In view of the current political situation in the country and my proposal last week to form a Government of Reconstruction and Reconciliation, I would like to meet you in order to discuss your views on this matter.

"May I suggest any one of the following dates and times;

"Tuesday, 11th November 2003 at 11.30 a.m. or 3.00 p.m, Wednesday, 12th November 2003 at 11.30 a.m and Friday, 14th November 2003 at 5.00 p.m. Please be kind enough to confirm the most suitable date and time for you. "May I also suggest that you consider bringing a small delegation of senior representatives of your Party for this meeting."

Meanwhile, Norwegian peace brokers arrived in Colombo last evening for crisis talks with President Kumaratunga and Prime Minister Wickremesinghe to decide on the future of the peace process.

Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister Vidar Helgesen and Special Envoy Erik Solheim will meet the Prime Minister today and the President on Wednesday to discuss the current position of the peace process.

"The duo will also have discussions with the LTTE in Kilinochchi on Thursday", a Norwegian Embassy Spokesman added.

According to Norwegian diplomats, Helgesen and Solheim would be here as scheduled on a three day official visit to have detailed discussions with the parties to decide the future agenda of the peace talks.

The President has categorically stated in her address to the Nation that Prime Minister Wickremesinghe will be in charge of the ongoing peace process and the taking over three key Ministries by her will no way hamper the ongoing peace process.

"If the President is willing to assume control of the peace process, as a whole, and is able to secure the support of the all stakeholders, the Government will be happy to entrust her with this responsibility and to support her initiative," Prof. G.L. Peiris said in a statement issued yesterday.

Prime Minister Wickremesinghe on Sunday announced that President Kumaratunga should undertake the full responsibility of the peace process since she is in charge of the Ministry of Defence.

"The government's view is that because the Prime Minister does not have control over all aspects of the peace process he can't handle it any further," Prof. Peiris said.

"Since proposals pertaining to cohabitation have as their basic objective the protection and promotion of the peace process, fundamental issues in respect of responsibility for the process, must be resolved at the threshold before other issues are addressed," he added.

If there is no affirmative response to this proposal, the Government which has an unequivocal mandate from the people to pursue a negotiated political settlement with the LTTE, must be invested with the responsibility for all aspects of the process, as was the case prior to the events of November 4, he added.

The Norwegian facilitators visit was primarily aimed at fixing a date for a discussion between the Government and the LTTE prior to commencing peace talks in January next year.

However, the Norwegian facilitators are now expected to review the political situation in the country in view of the furtherance of the peace process.

Thursday's meeting between the Norwegian facilitators and the LTTE will also be a vital as it comes following the handing over of its Interim Administration proposals to the Government.

The LTTE is also expected to announce their stance over the future of the peace talks, as they have not so far officially commented on the political developments in the South.

The only comment by the LTTE on the current political situation was that they were 'closely monitoring the situation in the South'.

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