Colombo: In an attempt to resolve their differences, Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe today (November 18) named a panel of officials to work out a cohabitation arrangement between the two of them on "national issues."

The President and the Prime Minister met today at the President's House and discussed in depth several issues on which they could work together.

"A committee of officials was appointed to work out the details of future working arrangements under which the President and the Prime Minister could work together on these important national issues," a joint statement said.

The two leaders met for 90 minutes at the President's official residence, their second meeting since the current political crisis erupted two weeks ago when Kumaratunga took over ministries of Defence, Interior and Media and suspended Parliament while Wickremesinghe was away on an official trip to the United States.

"It was also decided that the President and the Prime Minister would meet again in two weeks to move the process forward," the statement said.

There was no mention of the troubled peace process in the two-paragraph statement signed by the respective secretaries of the two leaders.

Norwegian mediators put the peace talks on hold last week saying they needed "clarity" as to who was in charge in Colombo.

PTI