COLOMBO, Nov 28: Sri Lanka’s president Friday agreed to share defence matters with her rival prime minister in a bid to end their bitter power struggle that has undermined peace efforts with Tamil Tiger rebels, official sources said.

President Chandrika Kumaratunga asked Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to name a minister of his choice to handle defence responsibilities, the sources told AFP.

Norway suspended its peace mediation role two weeks ago saying there was no clarity as to who was in charge after Kumaratunga sacked three ministers including the defence minister on November 4.—AFP

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