Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga on Wednesday sacked 39 ministers and deputy ministers from the caretaker government headed by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

"The president has sacked 27 non-Cabinet ministers and 12 deputy ministers," presidential spokesman Janadasa Peiris said.

President Chandrika Kumaratunga dissolved the Parliament on Saturday and ordered fresh polls on April 2, three years ahead of schedule.

A power struggle between Kumaratunga and began last November when the president took over three of Wickremesinghe's ministries.

Agencies