DATE=8/13/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=SRI LANKA - BUDDHISTS (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-265400
BYLINE=VANDANA CHOPRA
DATELINE=COLOMBO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Sri Lanka's new Prime Minister has met with top
Buddhist monks in an attempt to win support for the
government's new constitution. Vandana Chopra has
the details from Colombo.
TEXT: Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake is
ready to mediate talks between the monks and the
government to try and settle the dispute over the
country's new constitution. Government officials say
Mr. Wickramanayake met with the heads of two of Sri
Lanka's four principal Buddhist sects as he trys to
win their support for changes that would give more
power to regions of the country including one region
which would be administered by minority Tamils.
The Tamils have been fighting a 17 year war for
independence against the Sri Lankan government.
It is hoped by the government of President Chandrika
Kumaratunga that the new constitution would at least
partially answer the Tamil's desire for an independent
homeland in Sri Lanka's north and east.
Prime Minister Wickramanayake met the leaders of the
Buddhist sects in the central hill town of Kandy,
Saturday, to clarify the clauses of the new
constitution which the prelates were opposing.
The new premier says the growing dispute and the
problems between the Buddhist clergy and the
government over the reform package can be resolved.
He said he will meet the leaders of the Buddhist sects
again to discuss the matter further.
Prime Minister Wickremanayake replaced the 84-year-old
Sirimavo Bandaranaike, the world's first woman Prime
Minister and mother of President
Chandrika Kuamaratunga, last week.
The island's powerful Buddhist clergy have opposed
the constitutional reform
Package and called for a united front, with other
political groups, to prevent any further
attempt by the government to re-introduce the bill in
parliament.
The Buddhist clergy have been of the opinion that
implementation of the new constitution will lead to a
division of the country.
Last week thousands of Buddhist monks, Sinhala
nationalists and Catholic priests staged a protest
march outside the parliament against the proposed
constitution.
The widespread opposition last week, including
rejection by the mainline Tamil political
parties, forced the government to temporarily shelve
the bill.
But now that the new Prime Minister is meeting with
the Buddhists the reform constitution may have new
life. (Signed)
NEB/VC/PLM
13-Aug-2000 06:36 AM EDT (13-Aug-2000 1036 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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