Wednesday, November 9 2005 16:30 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Colombo: Sri Lanka's top official involved in peace negotiations with Tamil Tiger rebels resigned today (Nov 09, 2005) ahead of presidential elections this month.

As head of the Secretariat for coordinating the Peace Process (SCOPP), Jayantha Dhanapala had played a crucial role in reviving the stalled peace talks with the rebels.

President Chandrika Kumaratunga has accepted his resignation, her office said.

It was not immediately clear if his departure from the only government job he held will have consequences for his candidature for the UN Secretary General's post.

Dhanapala was named as Sri Lanka's candidate by Kumaratunga's government, which withdrew its support to the previous candidate, Tyronne Fernando.

SCOPP spokeswoman Sharmini Serasinghe said Dhanapala, who is currently out of the island attending a conference in Stockholm, will not return this month as he was attending a series of overseas conferences.

Officials said Dhanapala's resignation would also make way for a new president elected after the Nov 17 vote to make way for his own appoint.