Sri Lankan president, PM to hold crucial talks

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, December 10, 2003

Sri Lankan president, PM to hold crucial talks

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Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga and her arch political rival Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will hold crucial talks on Wednesday to find a solution to the current political impasse, officials said.

The meeting, which is the fourth since the political crisis erupted on Nov. 4 when Kumaratunga sacked three key government ministers, is expected to be the final meeting between the two leaders aimed at negotiating a compromise on issues concerning the peace process.

The Dec. 15 deadline has been set for reaching consensus on the issues relating to the peace process between the two main political forces.

Wickremesinghe has said that he could not take the responsibility of handling peace process with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels unless he controls the security in the country. But Kumaratunga seems not to compromise over the taking over the Defense Ministry.

Presidential Spokesman Harim Peiris made it utterly clear on Tuesday that Kumaratunga has no intention to hand over the DefenseMinistry to Wickremesinghe's government as it is an inalienable constitutional right of the president.

Analysts here said that the country could have to face a snap parliamentary poll if the two political forces fail to reach consensus by the Dec. 15 deadline.

If it is to be held, it would be the third parliamentary election since Oct. 2000.

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