12-30-2003, 09:02 AM
<b>US warns Sri Lanka on peace impasse</b>
The United States on Monday delivered a sharp warning that the bitter political struggle between Sri Lanka's Prime Minister and President was denting hopes for peace with Tamil Tiger rebels.
US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, who has taken a close interest in efforts to end Sri Lanka's civil war, held talks with Milinda Moragoda, minister in charge of peace talks with Tamil Tiger rebels.
In a statement issued after the talks, the State Department implicitly criticised President Chandrika Kumaratunga who triggered the crisis during Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's visit to Washington last month.
Armitage warned that the political crisis "would have a negative impact on the peace process until a clarification of responsibilities that would allow the prime minister to resume peace negotiations can be found," Deputy State Department spokesman Adam Ereli said in a statement.
"The deputy secretary said the current political impasse in Sri Lanka cannot be allowed to continue."
....
The United States on Monday delivered a sharp warning that the bitter political struggle between Sri Lanka's Prime Minister and President was denting hopes for peace with Tamil Tiger rebels.
US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, who has taken a close interest in efforts to end Sri Lanka's civil war, held talks with Milinda Moragoda, minister in charge of peace talks with Tamil Tiger rebels.
In a statement issued after the talks, the State Department implicitly criticised President Chandrika Kumaratunga who triggered the crisis during Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's visit to Washington last month.
Armitage warned that the political crisis "would have a negative impact on the peace process until a clarification of responsibilities that would allow the prime minister to resume peace negotiations can be found," Deputy State Department spokesman Adam Ereli said in a statement.
"The deputy secretary said the current political impasse in Sri Lanka cannot be allowed to continue."
....