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S.Lankan President Vows to Push Through New Draft Constitution
Sri Lankan President has vowed to push through the proposed new draft constitution despite this week's failure to obtain a two-thirds majority in the parliament.
In an interview on Friday evening with Rupavahini, the state television, President Kumaratunga said she was prepared to enact the new constitution before the dissolution of the parliament on August 24 if the main opposition United National Party (UNP) agrees to support.
Otherwise she will enact the draft constitution within two months after winning the next parliamentary elections which must be held by early November.
Sri Lanka has been plagued by a 17-year war between government troops and Tamil Tiger rebels who are resorting to terrorist bomb attacks and assassinations in their campaign for a separate state in the country's north and east.
The government of ruling People's Alliance has drafted a new constitution in a bid to end the long-running civil war by devolving more powers to regional councils including one administered by minority Tamils. However, the debate on the draft constitution was indefinitely postponed early this week as the government could not muster the required two-thirds majority in the parliament without the support of the UNP and other parties.
Kumaratunga said the government was mulling over the alternative method such as the new constitution will be approved in the parliament with a simple majority and thereafter be implemented with the approval of the people through a referendum.
President Kumaratunga said the government has received advice from internationally constitutional experts in this regard. As such the parliament will be converted into a constituent assembly for a short period after the next general elections and the constitution thereafter approved following discussions.
Kumaratunga said her government was forced to temporarily suspend the debate on the draft constitution following indications that the required two-thirds majority was not forthcoming.
However, she reiterated that the failure to secure the required number of votes has been a temporary setback.
The president stressed that the government has not abandoned the ongoing efforts to enact the proposed constitution and rejected reports, claims and speculation that the protests against the draft will force her to withdraw the bill.
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