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'National Government' talks again
UNP chairman meets President to discuss Joint Committee approach to the LTTE
UNP Chairman Malik Samarawickrema during a meeting with President Chandrika Kumaratunga this week discussed the formation of a Joint Committee mainly aimed at coming up with a National Government style common position on the settling of the northern insurgency with the LTTE.

Mr. Samarawickrema's meeting comes in the wake of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe conferring with President Kumaratunga on the eve of his departure to Europe where he was drumming up support for his peace initiatives viz-a-viz the LTTE.

Premier Wickremesinghe had given his nod to an earlier suggestion by the People's Alliance in a policy statement on the current peace process, where they had called for a Joint Committee headed by both President Kumaratunga and Prime Minister Wickremesinghe to map out strategy in the Norwegian brokered peace process.
UNP Chairman Samarawickrema had followed up on the President-Premier summit on the Joint Committee proposal. But the arrangement for bi-partisanship on the country's most crucial issue collapsed when Minister G. L. Peiris was recommended to be on the Committee.

President Kumaratunga vehemently opposed having Prof. Peiris, who served her as one-time Deputy Finance Minister and held the portfolios of Justice, Constitutional Affairs, Ethnic Affairs, National Integration and Industries in her Government - on the Committee.

Political analysts observed a common thread in the approach to the LTTE question, when Prime Minister Wickremesinghe told the Development Committee of the European Union this week that "core issues" will have to be discussed at the negotiating table with the LTTE, an issue President Kumaratunga has been insisting on consistently since she lost the parliamentary elections last December.

By core issues is meant that the LTTE will not only have to discuss the creation of an interim administration if and when peace talks begin, but that discussion will have to revolve around issues such as the renunciation of Eelam (the demand for a separate state), the use of terror and therefore the de-commissioning of weapons, and such issues.

The granting of bail by the Attorney General to former Minister Anuruddha Ratwatte, a suspect in conspiracy charges for unleashing violence in the Kandy district during the last elections, has also thawed hitherto hardened positions between the PA leadership and the UNP led UNF coalition, despite a new row erupting on sidelining President Kumaratunga from cabinet meetings over a dispute on the venue.

But the issue over the cabinet dispute was set to be settled with President Kumaratunga now agreeing to attend the meeting at a given venue, provided adequate notice is given enabling the PSD to follow security procedures. Hardline UNF coalition members are reported to be against moves to form a National Government with President Kumaratunga's PA.

President Kumaratunga's spokesman Harim Peris confirmed the meeting between Ms. Kumaratunga and Mr. Samarawickrama, but apparently downplaying the issue about the national government said the meeting was regarding the peace process.
Mr. Peiris on Friday said there seem to be no canvassing by the government among opposition members to obtain the required two thirds majority for the proposed 18th amendment which includes the proposals for MPs to vote according to their conscience and strip the president of the powers to dissolve parliament after a one year period.

Minister Peiris on Thursday dismissed reports that the government had fixed dates to present the 18th amendment in parliament, apparently downplaying the urgency of presenting the amendment. There has also being speculation about a possible dissolution of parliament, but President's spokesman strongly denied any moves by the President to dissolve parliament at the end of one year term when it is constitutionally possible to do so.

However, the government can recommend to the President to dissolve parliament before the one year term is completed.

The UNF was known to be canvassing among some of the PA members for their support to obtain the required two thirds majority in parliament, but in the recent weeks the canvassing had slowed down.

Prime Minister Mr. Wickremesinghe started off his new government by offering to form a national government, but with the peace process gaining momentum the proposal was down played in the past few months.

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