Parliament reconvenes after two-week

C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 002001

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR SA, SA/INS; NSC FOR E. MILLARD

PLEASE ALSO PASS TOPEC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11-19-13
TAGS: PGOV PINS PHUM CE
SUBJECT: Parliament reconvenes after two-week
suspension

Refs: Colombo 1989, and previous

(U) Classified by James F. Entwistle, Deputy Chief of
Mission. Reasons 1.5 (b,d).


1. (SBU) Following its two-week suspension by order of
President Kumaratunga, Parliament reconvened on schedule
the morning of November 19. With most of the body's 225
MPs present, Joseph Michael Perera, Speaker of the
Parliament, opened the session by harshly criticizing
the President's decision to suspend the body.
Kumaratunga, who could have attended the session in her
capacity as president, was not present. In his lengthy
speech, Perera, a member of the governing United
National Party, asserted that the President's decision
to suspend Parliament was improper. This generated a
vehement response by Opposition members, who immediately
demanded a debate on the issue. Perera swiftly ended
the morning session, promising such a debate at a later
time. Parliament met again late on November 19 for the
annual budget presentation by K.N. Choksy, Minister of
Finance. (Septel will review the GSL's budget.)


2. (C) In other developments related to the current
cohabitation impasse, Bradman Weerakoon, Prime Minister
Wickremesinghe's secretary, told us on November 19 that
the "Committee of Officials" set up by the President and
PM during their November 18 meeting (see Reftels) was
planning to meet daily for two to three hours. The
committee's goal was to finish a paper outlining a way
forward on cohabitation issues by the time the two
leaders meet again in about ten days time. Weerakoon
(himself a committee member) characterized the
President-PM meeting the previous day as "extremely
successful" and said he now had hope for a workable
solution to the current crisis.


3. (C) COMMENT. The reconvening of Parliament, and the
intent of the President's and PM's senior advisers to
meet for discussions are signs that the crisis of the
past two weeks may be in abeyance for the moment. That
said, the political situation remains highly charged and
volatile. END COMMENT.


4. (U) Minimize considered.

LUNSTEAD