24 February 2004	Tuesday	03 Muharram 1425

COLOMBO, Feb 23: Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has called for a fresh mandate to pursue his peace efforts with the Tamil Tigers (LTTE). Addressing a special convention of his United National Party (UNP) on Sunday, Mr Wickremesinghe appealed to voters to give him a stable government in the elections to be held on April 2.

"It is my intention to consolidate the ceasefire and work towards the goal of a permanent solution", the Sri Lankan premier said, referring to his internationally-backed peace process.

Mr Wickremesinghe was elected in Dec 2001 with a mandate to end the LTTE's independence drive. But he ran into conflict with his rival, President Chandrika Kumaratunga.