04-22-2004, 07:09 PM
<b>New Sri Lankan government loses key first test </b>
COLOMBO (Reuters) - Sri Lanka's new government narrowly lost its first test in parliament on Thursday, raising fresh questions about whether it has enough power to push stalled peace talks with Tamil rebels forward.
In a stinging setback for the minority government, lawmakers elected the opposition's candidate, former attorney-general W.J.M. Lokubandara, as speaker of the highly polarised, ethnically divided chamber by a margin of one vote.
The vote for speaker was seen as an important test of strength for President Chandrika Kumaratunga's United People's Freedom Alliance, which was left seven seats short of an absolute majority after elections early this month.
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, who have fought for an independent state since 1983, have said they will talk to any party as long as it has a clear mandate.
Reuters....!
COLOMBO (Reuters) - Sri Lanka's new government narrowly lost its first test in parliament on Thursday, raising fresh questions about whether it has enough power to push stalled peace talks with Tamil rebels forward.
In a stinging setback for the minority government, lawmakers elected the opposition's candidate, former attorney-general W.J.M. Lokubandara, as speaker of the highly polarised, ethnically divided chamber by a margin of one vote.
The vote for speaker was seen as an important test of strength for President Chandrika Kumaratunga's United People's Freedom Alliance, which was left seven seats short of an absolute majority after elections early this month.
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, who have fought for an independent state since 1983, have said they will talk to any party as long as it has a clear mandate.
Reuters....!
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