Sri Lankan president dissolves parliament

[dArKeR]

Sri Lanka's president has dissolved parliament, paving the way for elections nearly three years ahead of schedule, a top presidential official said.

Janadasa Peiris, a senior aide to President Chandrika Kumaratunga, said Saturday the vote would be held April 2 and the new parliament would meet April 23.

Peiris did not give a reason for the president's decision to dissolve the 225-member legislature and call early elections, but said she would address the nation soon.

The next parliamentary elections were due in 2007.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2004/02/09/2003098028