Lanka Prez names Rajapakse for PM

Kadirgamar is credited with getting the Tamil Tigers banned overseas but is not a grass roots politician. He entered Parliament in 1994 as a nominated legislator.

Rajapakse, on the other hand, has been a legislator since 1970 and enjoys wide support among the rank and file of the party.

Some youngsters in the party today suggested a secret ballot to resolve the issue of the next premier, but sources said Kumaratunga now appeared to be leaning more towards Rajapakse although it was still not a done deal.

Meanwhile, the LTTE today hinted that it might be forced to go back to war, if Colombo failed to resolve the ethnic question by recognising the electoral verdict in favour of its proxy candidates as a mandate for self-rule in ‘the Tamil homeland’.

In a statement posted on its website, the guerrilla group said the victory of 22 candidates backed by it was a ‘clear message’ on the concept.

Any failure to do so, the LTTE said, would mean that the Tamil people would ‘‘fight to establish their sovereignty in their homeland on the principle of self-determination’’.

The LTTE’s statement that the mandate should be interpreted as recognition of the concept of self-rule acquires significance, as talks on this aspect could be a condition precedent for allowing the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) to support any regime.

However, the TNA is not a monolithic entity. Five TNA Members of Parliament elected from the eastern districts are believed to be loyal to renegade LTTE commander, Colonel Karuna, and the Vanni leadership may exercise control only over the remaining 17.

The role of the eastern group of five may not be in tandem with the TNA leadership’s policy.