Leaders agree on panel to end row

President Chandrika Kumaratunga and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe have decided to appoint a committee of officials‚ to work together on national issues, but have failed to reach an understanding on the two sides co-operating politically to end a deadlock.

During a two-hour long discussion between President Kumaratunga and the prime minister, the two sides decided that the committee consisting of officials from the president's office and the prime minister's office will work out modalities on mainly continuing with the peace process and the cease-fire agreement. The names of those appointed to the committee were due to be announced later.

One of the issues the committee would be handling is the co-ordination between the two sides about dealing with problems related to the cease-fire agreement and coordinating with the Scandinavian monitors.

Prime Minister Wickremesinghe, hours after the meeting with the president, was due to brief his parliamentary group about the talks with the president as his group was preparing to return to Parliament today where the annual budget is due to be presented. Both, the president and prime minister's side have officially released only a brief statement about the meeting . "A committee of officials was appointed to work out the details of future working arrangements under which the president and the prime minister could work together on these important national issues," the statement said.

Wickremesinghe was due to be accompanied by the leaders of the constituent parties of the ruling United National Front (UNF), but in a sudden change of plan the premier was accompanied only by his secretary Bradman Weerakoone. The prime minister had started a round of consultations with these leaders to make arrangements for them to attend the meeting with the president. Chandrika and Ranil will now meet in two weeks time.

Meanwhile, Tamil Tigers said yesterday their most senior negotiator would return to the job after several months off. The surprise announcement by the Tigers was made through a pro-rebel Web site. "Anton Balasingham, whose deteriorating health compelled him to take several months of rest this year, is now well enough to resume his duties," the Tamilnet site reported, quoting Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) sources. There was speculation that he was sidelined not due to bad health, but because of disagreements with more hardline rebel leaders.


INDECISIVE

How the crucial meeting went
• A committee will work out modalities on continuing with the peace process and truce deal.

• The names of those appointed to the committee will be announced later.

• Wikremesinghe was due to be accompanied by the leaders of United National Front(UNF) but in a sudden change of plan he was accompanied only by his secretary Bradman Weerakoone.

• Chandrika and Ranil are to meet in two weeks.

• The premier's group was preparing to return to Parliament today for the annual budget session.