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Ranil in talks with coalition partners
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will today begin consultations with leaders of UNF constituent parties on the current political crisis before he meets President Chandrika Kumaratunga within the next few days.

Mr. Wickremesinghe will first meet, CWC leader Arumugam Thondaman who is returning from India today. Leaders of all constituent parties in the UNF are due to accompany the Prime Minister for the next round of talks. The consultations came amidst a fresh crisis in the SLMC with a faction of the party threatening to defy the leadership and support the PA.

The SLMC High Command was last night meeting at the Ports Ministry with party leader Rauff Hakeem presiding. The meeting which began at 10 p.m. was expected to continue beyond midnight. They were expected to take up the issues connected with the current political crisis, the failure of the government to keep to their promises concerning the Muslims in the east, and also to press for a separate Muslim representation in future peace talks.

The issue about possible future elections and the stand to be taken by the party were also discussed. Earlier reports spoke about four SLMC MPs trying to support the President.

Meanwhile in Ninthavur, SLMC parliamentarian, H.M.M. Harris last night presided over a meeting where a decision was taken to urge the government to put forward a proposal regarding a solution to the problems of the Muslims. They wanted that the proposals should be similar to the one proposed to the LTTE.

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