Colombo: Amid continuing power struggle, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe returned home today (Nov 7) pledging to reopen Parliament and reviving the peace process as his bitter political rival President Chandrika Kumaratunga withdrew the controversial state of emergency she had imposed two days ago.

"I will see that Parliament is re-summoned immediately to continue the peace process," Wickremesinghe told reporters on his arrival at the Colombo airport from an official visit to Washington.

During his absence Kumaratunga, who is critical of Wickremesinghe's peace process with Tamil rebels, on November 5 sacked Defence, Media and Interior Ministers, prorogued the Parliament for a fortnight. The following day she imposed a 10-day state of emergency giving sweeping powers to the armed forces to make arrests.

Hours before Wickremesinghe's return to a tumultuous welcome by his supporters, the President withdrew the state of emergency.

Government chief printer Neville Nanayakkara said the President had ordered him not to release the official gazette notification imposing the emergency.

"There is no state of emergency," Nanayakkara said. "The President has revoked the state of emergency."

PTI