Colombo: Accusing President Chandrika Kumaratunga of wrecking the island's fledgling peace process, Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels today (Nov 7) said they had seen the same scenario occur previously in their dealings with majority Singhalese Governments.

"Like smashing the pot when the milk in it is churning into butter, the Sri Lankan President has sabotaged the peace process at a crucial time," said a top rebel leader, who is known by his nom de guerre Karuna.

"There is nothing for us to get shocked about (the political crisis) if you consider our experience (with Singhalese politicians) in the past," he was quoted as saying in the pro-rebel Tamilnet.com website.

"This is how in the past they scuttled the peace processes despite the concessions and compromises we made during talks with the Sri Lankan Government."

He said, "No one in the world expected her to behave like this at this juncture."

As the country reeled from the shock of Kumaratunga abruptly dismissing three ministers and suspending Parliament on Tuesday (Nov 4), the immediate fear was that the Norwegian-sponsored peace effort would be the first casualty.

Wickremesinghe returned today from a trip to the US to a huge show of support from cadres of his United National Party. He pledged to keep peace negotiations on track and said it was crucial that Parliament be reconvened to get the process going.

PTI