Colombo: Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga on February 11 issued a veiled warning to sack Defence Minister Tilak Marapone over alleged disregard of her orders to deal with Tamil Tiger rebels.

Kumaratunga, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of armed forces had given written instructions to the Navy Chief after Marapone failed to take action against Tigers gun running on February 7, President's spokesman Harim Peiris told reporters.

"The President has to take action because the government was vacillating to take action against the Tigers who were clearly violating the ceasefire by smuggling in weapons," Peiris said.

"The civilian authority, in this case the government, has not carried out the President's orders and she will take appropriate action at the right time. She will not hesitate to uphold her responsibility," he said.

Asked if disciplinary action will be taken against the Defence Minister, Peiris said he was not going to disclose what the President intended to do with the government's Defence set up.

The Defence Ministry on February 10 issued a statement rebutting Kumaratunga's position on a standoff between the Navy and the Tamil Tigers on February 7.

Three Tamil Tiger rebels on board a trawler had blown themselves and the boat on February 7 after they were caught smuggling an anti-aircraft gun into Northern Sri Lanka by European observers monitoring a year-old ceasefire.

PTI