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| Thursday, 11 December 2003 |
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| President, PM discuss peace process by Ranga Jayasuriya President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday held extensive discussions on the peace process at the President House. A top Presidential aide said the three hour meeting focused mainly on matters concerning the peace process and the Government's position on the LTTE proposals. "The PM explained what will be the Government's limits on devolution and what powers he wishes to give to the Interim Administration," he said. He described the meeting as cordial. The meeting was in response to a request made by the President at the previous meeting to outline the Prime Minister's stance on the LTTE's proposals for an Interim Self Governing Authority to the North-East. The progress of the Samarawickrema-Tittawella committee was also discussed. The Samarawickrema-Tittawella Committee - which has met almost daily since the second week of November - will continue deliberations separately with another meeting scheduled today. Sources close to the committee said the December 15 deadline was flexible in the light of continuing deliberations. It is understood that a proposal has been made to establish a Ministry of National Security, which will deal with the ceasefire, SLMM and matters connected to the peace process. According to this proposal, the President, as Defence Minister, will be in charge of the Armed Forces and overall defence. It has been pointed out that similar arrangements existed during the tenures of Presidents J.R. Jayewardene, R. Premadasa and D.B. Wijetunga. The President earlier suggested the formation of a national government, which she called a Government of National Reconciliation and Reconstruction, saying the need of the hour was a consensus between the two major parties on important issues such as the peace process and the economy. The Prime Minister rejected the suggestion and demanding the President to restore the status quo or take over the peace process. The President later proposed a national consensus on four key issues, i.e. the peace process, strengthening the democratic institutions, good governance and vital infrastructure development. |
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