New twist in Sri Lanka stand-off

President Kumaratunga says she is acting in the country's interests

Sri Lanka's president has agreed to share defence matters with her rival, the prime minister, state media say.

The proposal is the latest stage in a power struggle between the two leaders, who disagree on how to reach peace with Tamil Tiger rebels after years of war.

An aide to Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe was swift to reject the idea, calling it unworkable.

President Kumaratunga took over the defence ministry early in November, saying security was being jeopardised.

The rebels have yet to respond to the president's suggestion, but the BBC's Frances Harrison in Colombo says they might well feel she is trying to start the whole peace process from scratch again after two years.

'National peace delegation'

A seven-page document leaked from the president's office spelled out the power-sharing proposal on Friday.

The 20-year conflict has killed thousands

It suggests the president authorises the prime minister to appoint a minister to assist her on defence matters.

This assistant minister would only handle issues relating directly to the peace process with Tamil rebels, such as the ceasefire, the international monitoring team and the Norwegian facilitators.

Overriding control for all defence matters would remain with the president.

The document also spells out a vision for the future of the peace process - saying after one or two rounds of peace the government would submit an overall framework for proposals to be given to the rebels.

Then, it says, a national peace delegation would be formed, presumably to replace the current negotiating team.

'Impossible to work out'

Our correspondent says possible adverse rebel reaction is not the only worry.

There is also concern that the proposals have not yet been given to the prime minister's representatives on the joint committee set up to find a compromise to the current political crisis.

The prime minister's secretary said the committee had not discussed the division of the defence ministry, which he felt it would be impossible to work out in practice.

The prime minister's position all along has been that the same person should control defence and the peace process, whether it is him or the president.