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CBK avoids JVP's Hambantota show
Amidst signs of deepening conflict between President Chandrika Kumaratunga and the JVP, the President has decided to stay away from a high-profile JVP ceremony in Hambantota to mark the renovation of a thousand tanks.

The JVP's Agriculture Minister Anura Kumara Dissanayake had two weeks ago handed over an invitation to the President to be the chief guest at a grand cultural pageant to mark the occasion.

The President reportedly accepted the invitation for the ceremony on August 19, but the Presidential Secretariat wrote to the JVP on Friday saying she would not attend due to security reasons. But political observers noted that the rejection of the JVP invitation came after a major clash between the President and the JVP on the ISGA and other issues leading to the sudden and surprise resignation of the President from the UPFA leadership.

In another surprise move, senior minister Ratnasiri Wickremenayake was named by the SLFP to succeed Ms. Kumaratunga as head of the UPFA despite speculation that Anura Bandaranaike would get the top post.

Meanwhile, the SLFP is planning a big national show to mark the tenth anniversary of Ms. Kumaratunga's election as President. A top-level party committee has been appointed to plan cultural and religious events all over the country with a massive rally in Colombo.
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