Sri Lanka opposition deals blow to devolution plans

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (Reuters) -- Sri Lanka's main opposition party delivered a crippling blow to government plans to end the ethnic war, saying it would not back them in parliament unless they are first discussed with the people and Buddhist clergy.

The United National Party had earlier appeared to arriving at a consensus with the ruling People's Alliance of President Chandrika Kumaratunga on the constitutional reforms which the government wants to push through parliament before its term ends on August 24.

The People's Alliance needs UNP support in the house as it does not have the two-thirds majority needed to pass the reforms.

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"There is strong pressure that people should be allowed to first study the reforms and that they should be discussed with the Buddhist clergy before they are brought to parliament," a senior UNP leader told Reuters after a meeting of the executive committee to discuss the party's stand on the issue.

"The government is trying to rush it through. If they bring it now, we'll have to reject it," he added.

The constitution aims to devolve powers to regions, one of them administered by Tamils, in an attempt to wean the minority away from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) who have been fighting for a separate homeland in Sri Lanka's north and east since 1983.

The UNP leader said although the party was in consensus with the government on several clauses in the draft constitution, there were still some issues that needed to be sorted out.

The two sides, which have held a series of meetings since March, have yet to agree on the transitional provisions in the draft constitution that will abolish the executive presidency and return Sri Lanka to a Westminister-style parliamentary system.

The government says the executive presidency should continue until the reforms are fully implemented, but the UNP is demanding it be abolished immediately.

The reforms have run into opposition from the influential Buddhist clergy and nationalist Sinhala organizations which say they are a sell-out to the minority and would lead to the country's division.

The reform package has already been rejected by the LTTE, who have said they are not interested in discussing peace until they have recaptured their former stronghold of the northern Jaffna peninsula.

Mainline Tamils parties say the proposals do not meet the political aspirations of the minority.

Copyright 2000 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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