Colombo: In a surprise move, Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga today (Nov 4) sacked three key ministers, suspended Parliament and deployed troops as her arch rival Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was away in Washington, throwing the country into political crisis and raising questions over the future of the faltering peace process.

"Several platoons" of troops have been deployed in the State printing press, television, radio and power stations to "prevent any disturbances", military spokesman Col Sumedha Perera said.

The President, who has wide executive powers and has been at loggerheads with the Prime Minister over the peace process, caught the cohabitation government by surprise by first dismissing Defence Minister Tilak Marapana, Interior Minister John Amaratunga and Information Minister Imthiaz Bakeer Markar.

She also removed the bureaucrats responsible for the day-to-day running of the three ministries and took control of them, officials said. The three ministers still hold other Cabinet-level posts.

Shortly afterwards, Kumaratunga, who is also Commander of the Armed Forces, ordered the legislature to be prorogued till November 19, forcing the Government to shelve plans to present its annual budget on November 12, and deployed troops at key installations.

PTI