Sri Lankan government seeking constitutional victory

August 4, 2000
Web posted at: 5:02 PM HKT (0902 GMT)

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (Reuters) -- The Sri Lankan government is confident of mustering enough votes in parliament to push through its new constitution, which is aimed at ending the nation's ethnic war, even without support from the main opposition United National Party.

"We have the numbers and there is no way the constitution is not going to be passed in the house next week," a senior minister told Reuters on Friday.

The minister, who declined to be identified, said the UNP's full support was not needed in next week's vote as several of its lawmakers were ready to break away and back the government.

The new constitution aims to devolve powers to the regions, including one administered by minority Tamils in an effort to give them a political alternative to the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam rebel group.

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Rebellion in Sri Lanka

The LTTE have been fighting for a homeland for Tamils in Sri Lanka's north and east since 1983. More than 60,000 people have been killed in the conflict.

Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga's ruling People's Alliance needs 150 votes in the 225-member parliament.

While the government is believed to be about 10 seats short of the two-thirds majority, politicians said the backing of smaller mainline Tamil parties and the UNP's breakaway faction would ensure its ambitious constitution sail through the house.

If the reforms are approved, the government would then approach the LTTE for negotiations, even though the rebels have in the past said they would not agree to talks until they recaptured their former stronghold of northern Jaffna.

The new constitution, which is opposed by influential Buddhist clergy and Sinhala nationalist groups, is to be debated for three days before a vote is taken on August 9.

Opponents say the reforms are not in the interests of the majority Sinhalese and could lead to the break up of the country. Some monks have threatened to go on hunger strike if the government goes ahead with the reforms.

The new constitution proposes an interim council to administer the country's north and east which the LTTE claims as a Tamil homeland.

Kumaratunga told parliament on Thursday the government would present the reforms to the LTTE after they are approved, and she held some hope the rebels would come to the table.

"I have a little hope that the LTTE will finally understand the realities of the situation and agree to talks," Kumaratunga said as she was booed by UNP lawmakers, who heckled her and tore copies of the new constitution.

The current parliament's six-year term ends on August 24 after which elections become due.

In a move to attract UNP lawmakers to its side, the Cabinet late on Thursday approved electoral reforms to replace the current proportional representation system.

A government statement announcing the decision did not give details, but local media said the changes would increase the number of seats in parliament, allowing the government to accommodate breakaway UNP lawmakers in the next elections.

The UNP said after a meeting of its parliamentary group on Thursday it would withdraw from the debate on the constitution as it contained proposals contrary to a consensus reached with the government earlier this year.

The party said in a statement it also opposed the extension of the executive presidency that would keep Kumaratunga in place for another six years. The UNP wants the presidency to be abolished immediately.

The government wants Kumaratunga to continue as president during the transition to the new constitution, that would become law only if approved in a referendum.

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