The failure to compromise

Wickremesinghe was in America when Kumaratunga dismissed three of his Ministers; he continued with his visit instead of returning to Sri Lanka which was in a severe constitutional crisis. The reason for His decision became clear when he did return. Having been met by masses of the party faithful at the airport, he made much of the fact that he had met George Bush and been assured of his support.

As Kumaratunga seemed to have no international backing, Wickremesinghe may have assumed that, if he stayed firm, she would be forced to back down. If she did not, he claimed, he was ready to face another election. This was a threat he had used previously, confident after his victory in 2001 that the electorate was behind him. When he introduced the abortive 19th amendment to the Constitution, he had claimed that it was essential to prevent Kumaratunga dissolving Parliament. This, according to the Constitution, she was entitled to do any time after a year had elapsed following an election. But meanwhile Wickremesinghe also said that, if his proposed amendment were rejected, he would precipitate another election.

This he had not done in 2002, and now at the end of 2003 it was clear that his bravado would not extend to such an action. To do this he would have had to resign, and ensure that Parliament did not extend its confidence to any other Prime Minister Kumaratunga appointed.