VARIOUS: SRI LANKA'S PRESIDENT CHANDRIKA KUMARATUNGA DECLARES STATE OF EMERGENCY AS PRIME MINISTER RANIL WICKREMESINGHE VISITS THE U.S.

Record ID: 677344

  • Title: VARIOUS: SRI LANKA'S PRESIDENT CHANDRIKA KUMARATUNGA DECLARES STATE OF EMERGENCY AS PRIME MINISTER RANIL WICKREMESINGHE VISITS THE U.S.
  • Date: 7th November 2003
  • Summary: WIDE OF NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) LAKSHMAN KADIRGAMAR, ADVISOR TO SRI LANKAN PRESIDENT KUMARATUNGA, SAYING "I have specifically been authorised by President Kumaratunga to state that the ceasefire agreement stands and will stand, there is no question about that. The President has no intention whatsoever of resuming or provoking the resumption of hostilities." SLV JOURNALISTS (W4) COLOMBO, SRI LANKA (NOVEMBER 5, 2003) (REUTERS) SLV NEWS CONFERENCE BY CABINET SPOKESMAN G.L. PEIRIS (SOUNDBITE) (English) PEIRIS SAYING "The government of Ranil Wickremesinghe continues to enjoy the confidence of the vast majority of members of parliament. Now that is the basis fact which we need to recognise, everything else flows from that. This is a government that was elected by the people of Sri Lanka on the 5th of December 2001. We have received an overwhelming mandate from the people in subsequent elections that were held in March and in May 2002, for the local authorities and the provincials. And we are firmly in control of parliament." SCU CAMERA OPERATORS (SOUNDBITE) (English) PEIRIS SAYING "The declaration of a state of emergency is of course within the powers of the president. And as honourable (inaudible) said, we respect the laws of this land and the laws of this land confer upon Her Excellency, the president, the power to declare a state of emergency. But that state of emergency has to be endorsed by parliament, within 14 days."
  • Embargoed: 22nd November 2003 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: COLOMBO, SRI LANKA / WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES
  • Country: Sri Lanka
  • Topics: General,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA57NVZH0RM6GRINNQYOLATQX1X
  • Story Text: Sri Lanka's President Chandrika Kumaratunga has
    declared a state of emergency as her Prime Minister visits
    Washington.

    Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga declared
    a state of emergency on Wednesday (November 5, 2003), giving
    herself more powers in a bare-knuckled political fight with
    the prime minister that is threatening the peace with Tamil
    rebels.

    Kumaratunga was sharply critical of government efforts
    to end the war with rebel Tamil Tigers over a separate
    state for minority Tamils.

    Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who at first
    warned of chaos and anarchy, on Wednesday tried to play
    down the crisis during an official visit to Washington. He
    said he would "sort it out" when he returned home on
    Friday.

    Wickremesinghe was in Washington when Kumaratunga, who
    is elected separately, sacked the defence, interior and
    media ministers on Tuesday and suspended parliament.

    The state of emergency, a draconian law that allows
    detention for up to one year without charge, now widens
    Kumaratunga's powers and those of the military and includes
    bans on public assembly.

    Despite the political paralysis, a presidential adviser
    said Kumaratunga would not end a 20-month truce with the
    Tamil Tigers, who seek a separate homeland for minority
    Tamils.

    Kumaratunga has openly disagreed with Wickremesinghe
    over the peace process, saying the government was making
    too many concessions to the rebels.

    "I have specifically been authorized by President
    Kumaratunga to state that the ceasefire agreement stands
    and will stand, there is no question about that,"
    Presidential advisor Lakshman Kadirgamar told reporters,
    adding, "The president has no intention of resuming or
    provoking the resumption of hostilities."
    Although a small number of troops were deployed at key
    installations in Colombo, the capital was otherwise calm.

    Cabinet spokesman G.L. Peiris said even though
    parliament was suspended until November 19, the government
    was in no danger of losing its majority in the legislature.

    "The government of Ranil Wickremesinghe continues to
    enjoy the confidence of the vast majority of members of
    parliament," said Peiris, "Now that is the basis fact which
    we need to recognise, everything else flows from that. This
    is a government that was elected by the people of Sri Lanka
    on the 5th of December 2001. We have received an
    overwhelming mandate from the people in subsequent
    elections that were held in March and in May 2002, for the
    local authorities and the provincials. And we are firmly in
    control of parliament," said Peiris.

    He said: "The declaration of a state of emergency is of
    course within the powers of the president.... We respect
    the laws of this land and the laws of this land confer upon
    Her Excellency, the president, the power to declare a state
    of emergency. But that state of emergency has to be
    endorsed by parliament, within 14 days."
    Kumaratunga's shock moves raised questions about the
    future of the prime minister and the direction of the peace
    bid. But Wickremesinghe smiled and looked relaxed as he
    talked to reporters in Washington after meeting President
    George W. Bush.

    Wickremesinghe told reporters at the White House, "This
    is not the first crisis I have had. When I go back, I'll
    sort it out. We have the majority in parliament, and we'll
    get the peace process on track."
    The prime minister is in open political combat with Sri
    Lanka's president who one day earlier sacked three of the
    country's most powerful ministers, suspended parliament and
    ordered troops to guard key installations. The actions,
    taken while Wickremesinghe was on an official visit to
    Washington, raise questions about his political future and
    the prospects for ending the war with the Liberation Tigers
    of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels.

    "No, I have not been in touch with the LTTE. The
    Norwegians are in touch with the LTTE. I know their
    reaction to the Norwegians. I have a mandate to bring peace
    to the country," Wickremesinghe said.

    Wickremesinghe described the moves by arch-rival
    President Chandrika Kumaratunga as desperate and
    irresponsible and said they could plunge the country into
    chaos and anarchy. Kumaratunga also declared a state of
    emergency on Wednesday, giving herself more powers.

    Analysts said it was difficult to predict what would
    come next until Wickremesinghe's return.

    The crisis erupted just days after the Liberation
    Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) released a proposal on
    power-sharing that the government said was a basis for
    fresh talks.

    Kumaratunga's party sharply criticised the proposals,
    but Kadirgamar said it was the president's belief that the
    security situation was deteriorating that led to her
    actions.

    But Kumaratunga's moves have already created unease
    among Tamils, who fear arbitrary arrests and a return to
    war.

    The 20-year civil war pits the Tamil rebels against a
    government dominated by the majority Sinhalese community.

    Prime Minister Wickremesinghe returns to Sri Lanka on
    Friday (November 7).
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