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Sri Lanka has spurned an attempt by the United States to intervene between the island's two main political parties in a bid to restore stability to the government.
Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar said the ruling People's Alliance coalition was already in contact with the main opposition United National Party "before any message was delivered by a foreign diplomatic representative".
"The PA will continue to engage the UNP and other recognised political parties in discussions relating to the future of the country independent of representations and messages which any foreign government may make or carry," he said.
The communique did not specify any particular country, but was clearly a reference to US Ambassador Ashley Wills.
Wills said last week that he "was asked by one political party to deliver a message to another. After reflecting on the request and on consulting Washington, he agreed to do so."
He was reacting to local press reports that he had met President Chandrika Kumaratunga earlier in the week to urge opening discussions with the opposition to solve the country's political crisis.
Wills issued a statement expressing his country's concern over "political uncertainty and its possible impact on the prospects of peace and economic growth in the country".
Kadirgamar's reaction came after Leader of the Opposition Ranil Wickremasinghe said his talks with the US ambassador were no different from those he had had with the Indian and British envoys and others.
"He has not carried a message from us to anyone," he said.
Kumaratunga has been trying to tempt Wickremasinghe to enter into a national unity alliance that can hold peace negotiations with the separatist Tamil Tigers. But Wickremasinghe is holding out for Kumaratunga to recall Parliament where the opposition has a majority.
After Wills met Kumaratunga, Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake reissued an invitation to the UNP to open talks.
The opposition has held inconclusive talks with the president since the PA lost its parliamentary majority in June after a defection by seven members of a Muslim party.
The UNP has named a four-man delegation to meet six government ministers in a bid to thrash out a settlement. They held their first round of talks on Saturday and will continue this week.
The beleaguered Kumaratunga government has come under increasing fire for proroguing parliament last month just as the joint opposition, commanding 115 seats in the 225-member House, got a no-confidence motion ready to topple it.
Indo-Asian News Service
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