DATE=7/30/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=SRI LANKA REFORMS (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-264937
BYLINE=VANDANA CHOPRA
DATELINE=COLOMBO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga is
likely to face tough
opposition in the parliament when her government tries
to pass reform proposals aimed at ending the country's
long drawn-out ethnic war. Vandana Chopra has the
details from Colombo.
TEXT: Sri Lankan government officials say the so-
called "devolution bill" will be presented in
parliament this week so that the reforms have a chance
of being passed before the parliament completes its
six-year term on August 24.
The bill aims to spread more powers to the regions in
the north and east of the country. This is an area
essentially dominated by Tamils.
This "Devolution Bill" is a bid to partially meet the
Tamils' demand for a separate homeland.
The ruling coalition in the Sri Lankan parliament,
which has a thin majority, needs the
support of the main opposition, United National Party
and other mainstream political parties to get the two-
thirds majority needed to pass the reforms.
The main oppostion, United National Party, says it
will not support the reform proposals if they are
rushed through before the dissolution of the
parliament and without a full discussion with the
Buddhist clergy.
Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga may also
have to worry about some of her own government
ministers. The independent Sunday Times newspaper
quoted a minister from the ruling
coalition as having doubts about rushing the reform
package through.
Tamil Tiger rebels, who have been waging a war for a
separate homeland, have already rejected the reform
package.
Meanwhile, on Saturday, hundreds of Buddhist monks and
nationalist Sinhalese gathered to protest against the
proposals.
Political analysts say it will be difficult for
President Kumaratunga to face general elections later
this year without going ahead with the constitutional
reforms which she had promised when she came into
power in 1994.
(SIGNED)
NEB/VC/PLM
30-Jul-2000 07:50 AM EDT (30-Jul-2000 1150 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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