Ranil goes on air, LTTE to support TNA

In his first address to the nation after sacking of his legislature, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe today accused his arch rival President Chandrika Kumaratunga of stifling the economic recovery in the country and jeopardising the ceasefire with LTTE rebels.

The LTTE on the other hand, announced backing a moderate Tamil party in the April 2 snap elections. The LTTE said it will not directly field the candidates but will play a ‘‘major role’’ to support the Tamil National Alliance.

Wickremesinghe said his government had spent the past two years trying to revive the economy through unpopular measures and the economy was set to take off when the President struck.