CBK: From streetfighter to stateswoman
By Harinda Vidanage
President Chandrika Kumaratunga has expressed willingness to stay out of party politics while being the President of the country.

Addressing the PA executive committee meeting on Friday, the President said she wanted to be more a 'peoples president' than a party leader and she wanted to be a leader accepted by all the people irrespective of their party affiliations.

Opposition leader Mahinda Rajapakse who was present at this meeting confirmed that the president made such a statement and said she wanted to move from the role of "street fighter to stateswoman".

The President said it was the duty of party stalwarts to look after the party as the people expected her to play an 'apolitical' key role as head of state.

As if to conform to her intended role, the President also said she would not dissolve Parliament even if she was advised to do so by her party members.

But The Sunday Times learns the President at a PA parliamentary group meeting and the SLFP central committee meeting this week asserted her position as the leader of both the PA and the SLFP, vowing to take tough action against any member who did not toe the party line and pledged to form a PA government soon.

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