Peace Accord Holds

The Norwegian-brokered ceasefire pact between the Sri Lankan government and Tamil Tiger guerrillas will stand despite President Chandrika Kumaratunga taking over the defence ministry, a presidential adviser said Wednesday.
"The president has specifically asked me to state that the ceasefire agreement stands and will stand and there is no question about it," Lakshman Kadirgamar, international affairs adviser to Kumaratunga, told a press conference.









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rn"The president has no intention of resuming or provoking the resumption of hostilities," he said. rn

rnKumaratunga Tuesday sparked a political turmoil after sacking the defence, interior and information ministers while at the same time suspending parliament for 15 days and placing troops and police on red alert after rejecting a Tamil rebel blueprint for peace. rn

rnHer move came as her political rival Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was in Washington to meet President George W. Bush and discuss the islands peace process on Wednesday.

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