Defiant PM returns to Sri Lanka

The prime minister is returning to new realities at home

Sri Lanka's prime minister has arrived back from the US to face what many see as a presidential coup in his absence.

Ranil Wickramasinghe was greeted by senior ministers and several thousand supporters as he landed near Colombo.

Earlier President Chandrika Kumaratunga suspended parliament, sacked ministers and declared a state of emergency.

On his arrival Mr Wickramasinghe called for the return of parliament and said his priority was the peace process with the Tamil Tiger rebels.

Thousands of supporters sporting the green of his United National Party arrived to welcome Mr Wickramasinghe who was escorted off his plane by his sacked Defence Minister, Tilak Marapone.

"We have to ensure that parliament is resummoned immediately for the peace process to continue," the prime minister said.

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He told his supporters that the peace process was "at risk" as a result of events in Sri Lanka this week and his priority was to get the peace process back on track "with discussions with everyone in Sri Lanka".

Foreign governments including donor nations had stated their support for the peace process during his visit to Washington, he said.

He added that the restoration of parliament was also needed to pursue reforms such as raising the pay of civil servants and giving relief to farmers.

Premier's dilemma

Just after Mr Wickramasinghe's arrival unconfirmed reports suggested the president was lifting the state of emergency.

President Kumaratunga is expected to speak about the state of emergency in an address to the nation at noon local time (0600GMT).

Many fear a confrontation between the prime minister and the president will mean a protracted power struggle which could ultimately jeopardise the peace process with Tamil Tiger rebels.

The BBC's Frances Harrison in Colombo says it is not clear what options are available to Mr Wickramasinghe, who cannot govern without key ministries and will find it difficult to mount a legal challenge to the president.

If, however, Mrs Kumaratunga does come out on top of this power struggle, she may face some resistance from an international community which has expressed concerns for the future of Sri Lanka's peace process, our correspondent adds.

Fears for peace

Apart from dismissing the ministers of defence, interior and information, Mrs Kumaratunga also declared a 10-day state of emergency.

Bitter rivals: Wickramasinghe and Kumaratunga

She had previously criticised concessions made by the government of her bitter political rival to the Tamil Tigers who are observing a ceasefire.

"The president assures the people of Sri Lanka that there is no cause for alarm or panic," a statement from the president's office said on Thursday.

She has insisted she is acting in Sri Lanka's best interests and has invoked security concerns.

Thursday saw state-run media switch allegiance to President Kumaratunga from the government of Prime Minister Wickramasinghe as the state of emergency came into force.

It gives the military wide-ranging powers of detention and bans public gatherings.

However Mrs Kumaratunga has also said peace talks with the Tamil Tigers will continue and diplomats monitoring the February 2002 ceasefire told the BBC the political crisis in Sri Lanka had not affected its functioning.

But in the north of the island, where most of the Tamil minority ethnic group lives, many people are reported to be stocking up on fuel and food amid fears that hostilities between the Tigers and government forces are about to recommence.