Colombo: Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga Friday dissolved Parliament, six days ahead of the scheduled expiry of its six-year term, and set October 10 for fresh elections.

A statement from the government information department, which announced the dissolution of the 225-member house, said that elections will be held on October 10.

The dissolution of Parliament lays to rest speculation that the government would change the electoral system to a combination of the present proportional representation system and the first-past-the-post system.

The government presented the bill to change the system in Parliament earlier this month, but did not proceeded with it.

India Abroad News Service