Sri Lanka's prime minister-elect was set today to discuss his cabinet plans with President Chandrika Kumaratunga, a bitter rival who had said in the past she would find it difficult working with him.
Main opposition United National Party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, who along with allies won a majority in parliament yesterday, was to meet later today with Mr Kumaratunga, whose People's Alliance suffered a sharp rebuke in the election.
The two have a history of animosity and the campaign was marked by strong language over different policies on how to deal with separatist Tamil Tiger rebels.
But with Mr Kumaratunga, who is elected separately and remains in office until 2005, given wide-ranging powers under the constitution to name a cabinet and even suspend parliament, the two have been encouraged to work together.
"We hope both... will display statesmanship at this crucial hour and choose the path of peaceful co-existence and cooperation," said the state-run Daily News, which until Wednesday's vote was warning against supporting Mr Wickremesinghe.