Emergency remains in Lanka as peace efforts take beating

Emergency remains in Lanka as peace efforts take beating
ASSOCIATED PRESS

COLOMBO: JAN 12: Parliament has extended emergency rule in Sri Lanka for another month, while a Norwegian peace envoy continued with his efforts to revive a flagging peace process.

Emergency rule, which empowers armed forces to detain any person suspected of involvement with Tamil Tiger rebels, has been in force for long periods during the 17-year civil war and requires monthly renewal.

It was extended in the 225-seat assembly with a majority of 94 votes yesterday.Meanwhile, peace envoy Eric Solheim, who arrived in the Colombo on Wednesday, met Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayaka at Parliament. The Prime Minister’s office had no comment on the talks.

Solheim also met the leader of the main opposition United National Party, Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Wickremesinghe told journalists that they had a “general discussion” on the current status of the peace process, with no specific reference to any Norwegian proposals aimed at bringing the two sides to the negotiating table.

Earlier, Solheim met Indian High Commissioner Gopalakrishna Gandhi as part of an understanding that the neighboring country is kept informed of developments.Solheim was due to hold discussions with President Chandrika Kumaratunga before his departure late last night.

It was Solheim’s first visit since November when he traveled to the northern rebel-held territory to meet leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, Velupillai Prabhakaran.

Norway has been trying for the past two years to start the two sides talking.