SRI LANKA: Sri Lanka's President sacked three ministers yesterday, suspended parliament and ordered troops to guard key installations, infuriating the Prime Minister and creating a crisis that threatens the peace with Tamil rebels.
The Prime Minister, Mr Ranil Wickremesinghe, on an official visit in Washington, described the moves by President Chandrika Kumaratunga as desperate and irresponsible and said they could plunge the country into chaos and anarchy.
The split has been building since Mr Wickremesinghe's party won parliamentary elections in late 2001, with Ms Kumaratunga sharply critical of government efforts to end the 20-year war with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels.
Fine Gael MEP Mr John Cushnahan, who has just returned from a visit to Sri Lanka where he met those involved in the peace process, said he was concerned at the President's move. He urged all sides to "ensure that the peace process is resurrected and put back on track".
The open conflict between President and Prime Minister now threatens efforts to end the war that has killed 64,000 people, diplomats said.
The sacking of the defence, interior and media ministers comes three days after the Tigers announced power-sharing proposals, which the government said were a basis for fresh peace talks early next year.
The President says the government is giving away too much in its efforts to win peace.
Announcing the dismissal of the ministers, the three most powerful in Mr Wickremesinghe's cabinet, the President's office said: "This step has been taken after careful consideration, in order to prevent further deterioration of the security situation in the country."
A statement issued by the Prime Minister's office in Colombo said: "Your government will not be diverted from the mandate given it by the people to pursue the path of peace, security and economic prosperity due to the irresponsible and precipitate actions of the President aimed at plunging the country into chaos and anarchy. "I pledge to you the people, your government will not allow this desperate and irresponsible attempt to undermine the peace process and economic prosperity of the people to succeed."
The pro-Tiger website, Tamilnet, said the President's actions had "dimmed" prospects for peace, adding that the status of the ceasefire had become uncertain. President Kumaratunga is elected separately from the prime minister and parliament and has vast powers under the constitution.