It is well known that Prime Minister Wickremasinghe is banking on the TNA's support to form a Government,and the fewer the seats the Tamil coalition captures, the more difficult his task. The Karuna factor,consequently, is becoming crucial in the elections, and could indirectly help Kumaratunge. At present,however, it is evident that neither Kumaratunge nor Wickremsinghe are willing to be seen as directly orindirectly being associated with, or supporting 'Karuna Amman', something they may have been willing to dobefore the peace process began and when the war was in full gear.
The elections have currently taken precedence over the peace process, and the country is now waiting to seethe new formula that emerges in the numbers game of the next Parliament. Whatever the outcome, it is clearthat the winning party will have to carry on with the peace process.