DATE=7/22/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=SRI LANKA OPPOSITION (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-264687
BYLINE=VANDANA CHOPRA
DATELINE=COLOMBO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Sri Lanka's main opposition leader has walked
out of ongoing talks on constitutional reforms with
President Chandrika Kumaratunga. And as Vandana Chopra
reports from Colombo his pull-out is likely to
jeopardize the progress of the ongoing talks aimed at
bringing peace to the war-torn island nation.
TEXT: Members of Sri Lanka's main oppostion, the
United National Party, say some of their delegates
will attend talks on reforms even though their leader
will not be there.
Opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said on Friday
night he will not take part in the ongoing talks on
constitutional reforms because he said the Sri Lankan
government is trying to tarnish his reputation. He
says the police are investigating his alleged secret
meeting with a senior member of the Tamil Tiger rebels
in Singapore.
Investigations were launched after the state media
reported on the meeting. The opposition leader has
dismissed the allegations as propaganda and said he
will not participate in talks until the police
investigations are completed.
Eralier this month the United National Party and the
ruling People's Alliance coalition led by President
Chandrika Kumaratunga reached agreement
on most parts of a draft constitution which will
distribute more powers to the regions including one to
be administered by the Tamils.
The two parties will meet mainstream Tamil groups in
the coming days to finalize a draft constitution.
However, political analysts say with the absence of
the opposition leader from the talks there is likely
to be a delay in the completion of the draft.
Sri Lanka has been embroiled in a bloody civil war
between the government and the Tamil rebels since
1983. (Signed)
NEB/VC/PLM
22-Jul-2000 07:43 AM EDT (22-Jul-2000 1143 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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