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Takeover plot began with PMship for Tyronne?
President Chandrika Kumaratunga had been plotting a parliamentary coup to defeat the UNF Government at least as much as five months ago when she offered Foreign Minister Tyronne Fernando the Prime Ministership if he were to cross-over, The Sunday Times was told.

Her move had been to oust incumbent UNF Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe by winning over some UNF MPs and install a Prime Minister from the UNF on the basis of a National Government -- a call she renewed in Friday's broadcast to the nation explaining for the second time in four days why she sacked three UNF cabinet ministers and suspended Parliament.

Foreign Minister Tyronne Fernando confirmed the offer yesterday soon after accompanying Premier Wickremesinghe back from a hectic visit to the US and a 9-hour motorcade back from the airport.

He told The Sunday Times that he, however, favoured a national government. "But it must be under the Prime Ministership of Ranil Wickremesinghe," he added. "At least for the sake of the peace process and the dealings with the LTTE, the two sides must get together," he told this newspaper.

Mr. Fernando was recently approved by the cabinet as Sri Lanka's candidate for the post of UN Secretary General which falls vacant in 2007. The approval was not opposed by President Kumaratunga.

Meanwhile, Deputy UNP leader and Energy Minister Karu Jayasuriya scoffed at speculation often found in political columns that he would join the President in a national government if offered the Prime Ministership. He told The Sunday Times that he would "rather go home".

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