Chandrika appoints stand-in, goes abroad

By Nirupama Subramanian

COLOMBO, JUNE 27. The Sri Lankan President, Ms. Chandrika Kumaratunga, left on a private visit abroad early this morning, appointing the Prime Minister to her office till her return.

The state radio, Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation, said Ms. Kumaratunga had gone to London to attend her daughter's graduation ceremony.

A statement from the Presidential Secretariat said the Prime Minister, Mr. Ratnasiri Wickramanayake, was sworn in today by the Chief Justice to `exercise, perform and discharge the powers, duties and functions of the President' until Ms. Kumaratunga's return. It did not say where she had gone or when she would return.

Ms. Kumaratunga's People's Alliance Government was reduced to a minority in Parliament last week and faces an Opposition no- confidence motion next month.

While Sri Lanka's Constitution provides for the appointment of the Prime Minister as the Acting President, this is the first time that the provision has been used since the introduction of the Executive Presidency in 1978.

In the seven years that she has been President, Ms. Kumaratunga's usual practice before going on visits abroad has been to elevate the Deputy Ministers of the portfolios she holds, namely defence and finance, to the Cabinet till her return, but she would continue to hold the top job.

The sudden departure from practice has caused speculation about the motives for appointing Mr. Wickramanayake as a stand-in, especially when the PA Government is facing a major crisis.

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