Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga on Sunday vowed a "free and fair election" in the conflict-torn island state after the Supreme Court last week ruled that her 11-year reign ends this year. "The president's fervent wish is that the election campaign should focus on the issues and challenges that lie ahead and that we ensure a shared future, together, as a nation of diverse peoples," her office said in a statement.
Kumaratunga pledged that the elections, which have to be held between October 22 and November 21, will be orderly despite heightened security fears amid a shaky cease-fire with separatist Tamil Tiger rebels.
She also said she was committed to ensuring a "free and fair election". "The difficult security situation in the country and the deterioration in the cease-fire arrangements in the north and east need to be addressed urgently," said the statement, referring to Tamil strongholds areas.
On Friday, Sri Lanka's Supreme Court ruled that Kumaratunga's term ends in December - rejecting her argument that because she served just five years during her first term, she was entitled to extend her second term by a year.
The main opposition United National Party, led by former premier Ranil Wickremesinghe, and other groups welcomed the ruling.
"We have to now ensure there are free and fair elections," said Wickremesinghe, who lost the post of prime minister in 2004 and is expected to run for president in the upcoming vote.
Sri Lanka's election commissioner said Sunday that the legal process to set an election date would begin this week. "I have not decided on the date yet," Dayananda Dissanayake told reporters. "But it will be done this week.
Observers hope the election of a new leader may push forward the peace process, which has been stalled for years and received a further set-back with the August 12 assassination of foreign minister Lakshman Kadirgamar.
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