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| Sunday, 14 December 2003 |
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Security |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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President offers share of Defence subjects by Deepal Warnakulasuriya President Chandrika Kumaratunga is ready to hand over some of the subjects under the crucial Defence portfolio to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, thereby empowering the Premier to proceed with the peace talks, the 'Sunday Observer' learns. This proposal came as officials from both sides prepared for tomorrow's 'final round' of UNP-PA talks aimed at resolving the stand off between the Presidency and the Government. People's Alliance spokesman Sarath Amunugama told the Sunday Observer that the Alliance "will not hesitate" to hand over "several subjects" under the Defence portfolio to the Prime Minister. The Ministry will, itself, be retained by the President in accordance with the Constitution and national security requirements. Meanwhile, other political sources indicated that the UNF Government had yet to agree to the President's offer of a Deputy Defence Minister post to the Government along with a separate National Security Ministry to oversee the peace negotiations. At the time of going to press it was unclear whether tomorrow's inter-party talks would immediately begin at leadership level between the President and the Prime Minister or, whether there would be a round of discussion at official level between Presidential Adviser Mano Tittawella and UNP Chairman Malik Samarawickrema. |
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