Poll expected to boost peace process

LAST week's court ruling clearing the way for a vote before November 21 will give peace process a critical boost, analysts and officials say.

The Supreme Court has raised the hopes for a leader who can engage the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

"We must have a negotiated settlement to the problem," said Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse, who has been tipped as one of President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga's possible successors. Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, the UNP's candidate, promised peace, equality and jobs, launching his campaign on Saturday.

"The next few months will be crucial to maintain the ceasefire," said Sunanda Deshapriya, director of the Centre for Policy Alternatives think-tank.

"A president elected for a six-year term with a new mandate should be able to end the stalemate in the peace process."

Diplomatic sources close to the Norwegian-led peace initiative said while they had not expected face-to-face peace talks between the two sides to resume immediately, ending political instability was seen as a positive development.

- AFP, Reuters