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Chandrika not to give up Defence portfolio

By V. S. Sambandan

COLOMBO Dec. 9. The Office of the Sri Lankan President, Chandrika Kumaratunga, today said that the President would not give up the Defence portfolio, which was taken over by her last month.

"The retention of Defence under the purview of the President is a constitutional necessity. It is inalienable'', the Presidential spokesman, Harim Peiris said, adding there was "absolutely no question'' of the portfolio being given up.

The President had, on November 4, taken over the Defence, Interior and Mass Communication portfolios, exercising her constitutional powers. Ms. Kumaratunga's position was also strengthened by a Supreme Court ruling that Defence was inalienable from the Presidency under the Constitution. The Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, subsequently abdicated responsibility for the peace process, citing lack of authority over the sensitive Defence portfolio.

The peace talks with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), stalled since the unilateral pullout by the rebels this April, were put on hold by the Norwegian facilitators, citing "lack of clarity'' on the political front. On the issue of political clarity, the spokesman said the Constitution spelt it out "chapter and verse''. Under the Constitution, the President is vested with executive powers as head of state, head of Government and commander-in-chief of the armed forces.

Crucial meet

The observations by the Presidential spokesman come against the backdrop of a plan being worked out by a joint committee headed by the Secretaries to the President and the Prime Minister, for the two leaders to work together on issues of national importance. The committee has been asked to submit its report by December 15. Ms. Kumaratunga and Mr. Wickremesinghe are scheduled to meet on Wednesday to discuss ways of working together.

The President recently mooted the formation of a joint peace council, co-chaired by her and Mr. Wickremesinghe, to oversee all aspects of the peace process and the creation of the post of a Minister Assisting Defence. This proposal was described as "not meeting the basic criteria'' by the UNF, which wants "effective control'' over the peace process.

On the talks between the President's party, People's Alliance and the hardline Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) for an electoral pact, the spokesman said the negotiations were "ongoing'' and that "any further details will be given by the general secretaries'' of the two political parties. Asked if there was a possibility of a snap poll, he declined to comment.

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