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Tigers to set the course for Sri Lanka's new govt
(AFP)
Updated: 2005-11-25 08:31

Sri Lanka's new hawkish president is to make a policy statement pledging prosperity, but analysts and diplomats say they are focusing on a speech by the Tamil rebel leader this weekend that could fan fears of a slide back to civil war.

Left-leaning President Mahinda Rajapakse is slated to open a new session of parliament Friday with a policy declaration that government officials say is likely to be a reiteration of his election manifesto that was packed with promises of subsidies to boost the island's economy.

However, analysts and diplomats say they are more keenly awaiting the annual policy declaration of Tamil Tiger rebels in view of the new hardline administration and renewed fears of the country slipping back to war.

Newly-appointed Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake (L) and President Mahinda Rajapakse are seen after Wickremanayake was sworn in at the President House in Colombo November 21, 2005.
Newly-appointed Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake (L) and President Mahinda Rajapakse are seen after Wickremanayake was sworn in at the President House in Colombo November 21, 2005. [Reuters]
"We're anxiously waiting for (Tiger leader Velupillai) Prabhakaran to make his speech," a diplomatic source said. "That will give us an inkling about the direction of the peace process."

Tiger chief Prabhakaran, who turns 51 Saturday, is to deliver his "state of the nation" speech a day later at the end of "heroes' week" which commemorates rebels who perished in three decades of fighting.

More than 60,000 people have died in the Tamil separatist conflict and four previous peace attempts have ended in failure, leading to more bloodshed.

"Prabhakaran's speech will be more important than anything else at this time," said former air force chief Harry Gunatillake. "We can expect a hardening of his stance and I fear he may signal a drift towards hostilities."
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