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Mano-Malik talks: Drought continues
Moves for a summit between President Chandrika Kumaratunga and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe next week on matters related to co-habitation may not materialise after all. This is in view of the slow progress being made during talks by the officials from both sides.

President's Senior Advisor Mano Tittawella met UNP Chairman Malik Samarawickrama for a brief meeting which began at 4 p.m. and lasted less than an hour. They are to resume their dialogue on wide-ranging issues tomorrow. They are expected to focus on reaching consensus on measures to ensure political and economic stability. Such measures are expected to include electoral reforms, steps towards good governance and moves to avoid an immediate parliamentary general election, but the fundamental issue remains what to do with the Defence Ministry and the peace process.

Mr. Tittawella's illness, after a visit to Europe to join his family during the December holiday season, has been the main cause for the delay in progress in the talks. The Sunday Times learns that a formal announcement outlining areas of general accord will hinge only on the outcome of another round of talks between the officials. Mr. Samarawickrama is also due to meet Prime Minister Wickremesinghe tomorrow to brief him on the outcome of Friday's discussion.

However Mr. Wickremesinghe's attention in the past several days has been focused on problems posed by the current drought. He has already discussed relief for farmers and other related issues with Finance Minister K.N. Choksy. The heavy toll already taken by the drought has led to a lower paddy yield forecast in the upcoming season.

The declining water levels at various reservoirs have resulted in the government having to rely on diesel and thermal generated power already. Yesterday Premier Wickremesinghe discussed the situation with officials during a visit to Kalawewa. From the Circuit Bungalow he drove to Anuradhapura to host a dinner in honour of Japan's special peace envoy Yasushi Akashi.

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