Clergy stay away from meet

By V. S. Sambandan

COLOMBO, APRIL 10. A meeting between the Sri Lankan President, Ms. Chandrika Kumaratunga, and leaders of the influential Buddhist clergy, planned for today, has been delayed as the clergy stayed away, citing ``inadequate time'' to prepare for the meeting.

Ms. Kumaratunga had called for the meeting to discuss the draft constitutional reforms, which has been opposed by the clergy as well as Sinhala hardliners.

The clergy leaders, who met last night, had decided to defer the meeting as they required more time to study the proposals, aimed at solving the separatist conflict through a comprehensive devolution of powers. Sections of the clergy have already opposed the reform package and have resisted any change to the prevailing unitary state in the Sri Lankan Constitution.

Last week, hardliners, led by sections of the clergy, laid down seven `non-negotiable' conditions which are essentially divergent from the proposed reforms for conflict resolution.

The internal efforts for conflict-resolution apart, an external attempt has also been commenced through a Norwegian initiative to commence direct talks between the Government and the LTTE, which has also come in for criticism by the opponents.

The latest attempts are also in the backdrop of a stepped up offensive between the LTTE and Government forces in the northern Jaffna peninsula. There has also been increased pressure by southern hardliners to intensify the military offensive and call off all proposed talks with the LTTE.

The Army has called for a special recruitment for commandos for the 53 Division, which is deployed in the peninsula. The Army, which is already facing shortage of manpower has also called for recruits to the elite 53 Division, which mans the sensitive Elephant Pass military complex.

Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan military today said it regained a part of the Main Supply Route in the Jaffna peninsula, north of the crucial Elephant Pass military complex.

A Sri Lankan Defence Ministry release said 3 km of the MSR between Muhamalai and Pallai was regained today in a day-long operation. Eleven security personnel were killed, 47 were wounded and 143 received minor injuries during the combined offensive by the Army, Air Force and Navy.

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Section  : International
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