November 21, 2003	Friday	Ramazan 25, 1424

COLOMBO, Nov 20: Sri Lanka’s government on Thursday offered an olive branch to the president in hopes of ending a power struggle that has stalled peace talks with Tamil Tiger rebels and hurt the economy, officials said.

Government spokesman G.L. Peiris said Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was prepared to forget his differences with President Chandrika Kumaratunga so the pair could mend the economy and put the peace process back on track.

“Vituperative politics should be a part of history,” Peiris told reporters. “There should be a role for her excellency and her party in the decision-making process. There is a clamour for it in the country.

“The country has gone through a period of political convulsions. Now is the time to restore calm, stability and serenity.”

The country has been gripped by a political crisis since November 4 when Kumaratunga sacked three key ministers and closed parliament for two weeks, effectively blocking any moves against her by the legislature.

In addition to the defence portfolio, Kumaratunga also seized control of the ministries of interior and information.

There was no immediate reaction from the president to Thursday’s offer, but since the crisis began Kumaratunga had twice called for a government of national reconciliation to address the main issues facing the country, including its shaky truce with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.—AFP