Chandrika invites UNP for talks

By V. S. Sambandan

COLOMBO, FEB. 19. The Sri Lankan President, Ms. Chandrika Kumaratunga, has invited the Opposition United National Party for ``comprehensive discussions'' on the draft constitutional reform proposals aimed at resolving the decades-long ethnic conflict.

In a letter to the Opposition Leader, Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe, Ms. Kumaratunga urged the UNP to respond to the invitation to begin talks on February 22 to resolve the differences between the two parties.

The approach adopted by the ruling People's Alliance to arrive at a southern consensus has been to discuss the proposed reforms within the coalition and, at the second stage, with Tamil political parties, prior to inviting the UNP for talks. Subsequently, once an overarching agreement is reached, the proposals would be presented to the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.

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Section  : International
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