President Chandrika Kumar-atunga early yesterday left on a private visit to London after writing a letter to Speaker Joseph Michael Perera in which she assures that parliament will not be dissolved, political sources said.

The letter is likely to be delivered to the speaker tomorrow (19) before the beginning of a three-day debate on a no-faith motion against Interior Minister John Amaratunga.

She decided to assure the speaker amidst ongoing moves to persuade a group of PA MPs to vote with the government to clip presidential power to dissolve parliament after December 5, one year after the last parliamentary elections in December.

Meanwhile, Sujeewa Nivunhella in London adds the president will be visiting her children as the university summer vacation is now in progress, according to authoritative sources there.

She is expected to stay in UK for about a week.

"It’s entirely a private visit", the sources said.