Agence France Presse

Colombo, April 3:

Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga could call a snap election before the end of 2005 because of friction with her Marxist allies over economic reforms and peace talks with Tamil rebels, analysts said today.

Under the constitution, Kumaratunga is now allowed to sack parliament and call an early election following the passing at midnight of the first anniversary since her coalition government gained control of the legislature.

Analysts say Kumaratunga may take the chance because she believes her handling of

the December 26 tsunami operations is appreciated in the country. The president may call an early election to see if her party can rule without the help of the Marxist JVP, or People’s Liberation Front, which opposes peace talks with the Tamil Tiger rebels and plans to sell or privatise state-owned companies, a source close to her Freedom Alliance party said.

“She can go before the people to seek a fresh mandate to carry out the reforms and enter talks with the Tigers,” the source said. “But it will be a high risk enterprise.” Political and military analyst Harry Gunatillake said Kumaratunga’s career was at stake as her second and final six-year term as president was drawing to a close.

“The president can call a quick general election,” Gunatillake said. Opposition legislator Jayalath Jayawardena said he expected early elections. President has said there will be no early election, but we can’t believe her,” Jayawardena said.

Political observers noted there was no constitutional impediment for her to resign prematurely and run for prime minister and then attempt to scrap the more powerful presidency by getting a new parliament to amend the constitution.