December 8, 2003	Monday	Shawwal 13, 1424

COLOMBO, Dec 7: Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said on Saturday hat he would not be forming a National Government as this would lead to a conflict with President Kumaratunge who is a member of the opposition.

He was speaking at a public rally after he met President Kumaratunge on Friday to discuss the modalities of “working in unity”. Instead Wickremesinghe said that he and President Kumaratunge had been discussing the carrying out of the peace process as this was the most important issue of the moment.

Sources in the President’s Secretariate said that the discussions centred on the “larger picture of a national government.” The final result of the talks between Prime Minister Wickremesinghe and President Kumaratunge is to be declared on December 15.