He told Norwegian mediators, at talks in the north of the island, that the power struggle in Colombo was worrying.

Clarification was needed, he said, over who was in charge there, after President Chandrika Kumaratunga took control of defence and dissolved parliament.

She had accused the prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, of conceding too much to the rebels.

What do you think this means for the peace process in Sri Lanka?

People of Sri Lanka desperately need peace Shakeela, Sri Lanka

People of Sri Lanka desperately need peace to lead a care free life, an indispensable need of the human being. I opine that the Prime Minister and the president should have some firm resolution of finding a lasting solution for this suspended ethnic warfare. The VIPs are blessed with luxurious facilities to enjoy their life and the innocent people are destined to be the victims, if perhaps peace process scuttles.
Shakeela, Sri Lanka

Peace is all what we Sri Lankans need but a unity of the land should always be there. It is the next generations that will suffer. There is no other country for us to go to unlike other nationals living here. I back the president fully. There is no such turmoil as created by the media, in reality. People are just trying to make the best out of the situation. We can live together by forgetting the past as one nation and one county. But is it just to divide the country in order to gain peace when both parties have suffered equally?
Panduka, Sri Lanka

The peace process in jeopardy. For the last two years the citizens of this island have been going about their business in peace and without any problems. I don't see any security threat. What the president has done with her coterie of few is to jeopardise the future of the whole country only to grab power and to keep herself in power. Indeed it is a sad and dark days for this country where a few power hungry politicians can hijack the future of this country.This government was given a mandate by the people to solve this problem. Let them do their job.
Rasheeda, Sri Lanka

Why should the government of Sri Lanka bargain peace with terrorists who blew up buildings and people using suicide bombers? Would the US/UK do this? Perhaps these countries should practise what they preach. I commend President Kumaratunga for her brave stance.
Sinhabahu Dutugemunu,Sri Lanka

Mrs Kumaratunga should be taking a long term view for the good of the country Easterine Mills Clarke, UK

It is a sad day for those of us who have been hoping and praying that the end to all the troubles in Sri Lanka was in sight. The ordinary folk of SL are the losers if the country returns to the old days of violence. Mrs Kumaratunga should be taking a long term view for the good of the country. Perhaps she is badly advised! The action she has taken will set the peace process back a long way.
Easterine Mills Clarke, UK

I think the president should be commended for her action. We want peace, but not at any cost.
Ajith De Silva, Sri Lanka

It's a shame that the Sinhalese people who support the president's move can't see the wood from the trees. They are oblivious to the fact that most Tamils have suffered from 30+ years of institutionalised racial discrimination under a Sinhalese nationalist government.
Rathan, England

"United we stand, divided we fall". The only factor holding our country back from developing is our attitude. Both major ethnic communities have been selfish, only interested in what they can get out of the conflict. We should think of ourselves as Sri Lankans and not Tamils, Muslims or Singhalese. Let's see what we can do for our motherland.
Rasika Medis, USA

This seems to be a tug of war Aboosalih, Sri Lanka

The genuine endeavours taken by the present government to find a lasting solution to this perennial ethnic issue is very much appreciated. I am of the view that the premier of Sri Lanka has an obligation to discuss every attempt towards peace with the president in order to get her fully involved in the peace process. This seems to be a tug of war.
Aboosalih, Sri Lanka

As a Tamil who suffered for the last 20/25 years due to the ethnic riots and communal politics of Sinhala politicians, I wish to thank Mrs. Kumaratunga as now the international community know better why the Tamils took up arms. After LTTE declared that they are prepared to come to the negotiating table to discuss the solution (self-governing authority in the island's north-east) within a United Sri Lanka, she has taken this action. Now the whole world knows that whenever a solution/agreement is on the cards, the history is that the opposition party (whether UNP/SLFP) de-rail the peace process.
Sinniah Pathmanathan,New Zealand

I have stayed in Sri Lanka throughout the last 40 years and this is the closest we have come to peace and I feel that the Prime Minister is very sincere in his efforts and is committed to that goal. The Tigers should help out the Prime Minister at this stage by dropping some of the more unreasonable demands from their wish list, which would nullify the paranoia of the President.
S Rodrigo, Sri Lanka

The innocent civilians are the big losers Martin Madanadeva, UK

It is really sad to see the innocent Sri Lankan civilians are caught up between the political fighting of these two leaders - Mrs Kumaratunga and Mr Wickramasinghe. A couple of years ago, a similar peace process put forwarded by Mrs Kumaratunga's party were blocked by Mr Wickramasinghe and his party. Now it's happening other way round. It raises serious questions whether these two parties are really committed to peace? Surely, the innocent civilians are the big losers. Both Sinhalease and Tamil people must open their eyes wide open now.
Martin Madanadeva, UK

They should at least set aside their political rivalry for the time being and give the peace process a chance. Sri Lankans may have to sacrifice something, but the outcomes of peace will be far greater than that. After all, it is a great land which is caught in political turmoil.
Raj, India

Further instability in Sri Lanka - it is a very sad and difficult situation. This is particularly the case for the expats or small time business investors who have seen the potential in Sri Lanka and since peace began, are endeavouring to enhance tourism and the quality of life for people in the small local communities.
Alexa Deal, Sri Lanka

One step forward and two steps back. The clear losers are once again the people of Sri Lanka,
Mani Pathmanathan, UK

This is a deliberate move by the President to derail the peace process Bala Ratnam, USA

The President Chandrika Kumaratunga's decision to dismiss the three ministers and suspending the parliament elected by the people of Sri Lanka is a clear proof of her wish to retain power no matter what. This is typical of the method she will adopt to hold on to power as her both mother - Srimavoh Bandaranayake and father SWRD Bandaranayake did (who were elected under the theme of Singhalese nationalism).
This is a deliberate move by the President to derail the peace process at a time, when her opposition party was going to arrive at something concrete with in two years where as her party failed miserably after being in power for much longer. Any result of this peace process would have been at least a humble beginning for long awaited peace. It is very sad to see many such opportunities of nation building have been lost by selfish motives of short-sighted politicians.
Bala Ratnam, USA

I hope Norwegian facilitators do not lose even a single ray of hope. Their fantastic efforts nearly brought a vision of hope in this terror-sick world. Every just cause, great deed involves struggle, I just hope Sri Lanka overcomes all to step on the real possibility of becoming the first developed country in South Asia
Raj Sankaran, USA

We Sinhalese truly back the President's decision...
It is true that Sri Lanka needs peace, but, not the way LTTE wanted (proposed). Look at USA, they are fighting a war for peace. Real peace can only have by disarming the LTTE. Sri Lanka can not afford to have two systems, in a society where minority is well mixed and live with the majority. The International Community must look twice at Sri Lankan crisis and must make a fair judgement. I am sure they all will back the President's decision.
Gamini Udagepola, Sri Lanka

LTTE has given up the separate state solution wanted to have the political solution but majority of the Singala communist has proofed they do not wanted to settled the Tamils political rights, I appeal to the international community and the governments should pressure the Singala government .
ERIC JAY,CANADA

It was high time the president acted the way she did. Somebody must take some action against the people of this country becoming hostage to a group of ruthless terrorists. The tigers want to impose there regime on the north-eastern part of Sri Lanka. Where they will go from there is not certain. Whatever the injustices which the Tamil people suffered they must understand that by laying there future in the hands of the tigers will never give them true freedom. Bargaining with ruthless terrorists is not an option
Vidura Bandara, Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has begun her dramatic collapse in to a bottomless abyss with these new dramatic developments. Under the present government there was a faint glimmer of real hope for peace, but now it seems like a distant dream and to me many Sri Lankan will return to a living nightmare. Sadly this power hungry craze is endemic to all third worlds leaders who want to remain in power for as long as they can while plundering the country for their own gain.
Tina Edward Gunawardhana, UK

It is a sad day for Sri Lanka Kandiah, UK

It is a sad day for Sri Lanka. Once again politicians are putting their selfishness before the welfare of the people. The last two years have brought peace and prosperity to ordinary Sri Lankans of all walks of life particularly the poor. They can earn a living and move without standing in long queues to be searched etc. This is a legacy from JR Jayewardene - dividing the power between the Prime Minister and the President. Previously the President was a nominal figure. Who will suffer as a result of this new developments? The poor of course.
Kandiah, UK

This clearly shows how the politicians of the majority of communities handle the ethnic war. When one comes forward the other rejects and vice versa. I appeal to the international community to see the real reason why the Tamils want a self determination. Can Tamils expect reasonable solutions from in this kind of politicians? This is more over justifying the Tamils struggle towards the separate nation. To improve the current situation an international pressure should be used on the President and her party to carry on the peace negotiation.
Rajendran, Sri Lanka

Mrs. Kumaratunga has once again demonstrated her inability to deal with Sri Lanka's political and economic issues in a constructive manner. This irresponsible move on her part, motivated purely by her need for political power, is typical of the leadership her family has provided the country since independence. Selfish political gain rather than a determination to solve problems has characterized their political tenure.
Sharmini Mahendran, USA

It shows how desperate the president is to get back in to power. As far as the security is concerned there is no imminent threat from the LTTE or anyone else. LTTE's proposals on Interim Administration are yet to discussed and agreed. President is prepared to use any measure, how undemocratic it may be, to oust the elected government and no concern whatsoever about the people or the country.
Subra, UK

I fully back Tamil tiger proposals. They now have given up the separate state solution as the international countries wanted. Now the foreign countries should back Tigers and let the Tamils to run their affairs. The Sri Lankan is incapable of running the country and they are corrupt. The sacking of the minister shows how the Sri Lankan democracy works.
Sanjeevan Siva, UK

A surprising move indeed! I doubt if any commentator would have thought that the Singhalese president would have the audacity to take a decision that so transparently betrays its anti-Tamil agenda. The dark history of Sri Lanka seems to repeat itself, where once again, the well received Tamil steps towards peace, are likely to be side-stepped and overpowered through this crisis.
S Sivaskanthan, Australia