UNP distancing itself from reforms?

By Nirupama Subramanian

COLOMBO, JULY 26. After reaching an agreement with the Sri Lankan Government on many of the key provisions in the proposed new Constitution, the Opposition United National Party (UNP) is now seeking to distance itself from the document.

The party spokesman, Dr. Karunasena Kodituwakku, was today quoted by local media as saying that the party would not support the proposed Constitution in Parliament if the Government tried to rush it through.

The UNP support is vital for the mandatory two-thirds votes required to pass constitutional amendments in Parliament.

Fireworks are expected at a crucial meeting of the UNP working committee and parliamentary group scheduled tomorrow to discuss support for the new Constitution.

The UNP members are angry that the Government did not concede the party's demand for setting up an independent election commission before the next general election and instead was trying to push electoral reforms to change the present proportional representation system.

The party is also expected to reject support for a package that includes the continuation of the Executive Presidency. The modifications to the draft suggested by Tamil parties will also be discussed at tomorrow's meeting.

But besides all this, the UNP is also concerned about the rising voice of Sinhala nationalism against the package. Sri Lanka's two most important Buddhist priests, the heads of the Malwatte and Asgiriya chapters of the Siam Nikaya, have reportedly asked parliamentarians to vote against the proposed changes to the Constitution.

Dr. Kodituwakku is reported to have told a news conference that the Government and Opposition acting on their own could not adopt a new Constitution that did not enjoy wider approval.

``The other sections of the country should also agree to the Constitution. Now, even the Tamil parties have rejected the proposals. The Maha Sangha (Buddhist clergy) has rejected it,'' Dr. Koditawakku was quoted as saying by the daily newspaper The Island.

He said the process needed more time and could not be hurried through Parliament as the Government was trying to do.

Another UNP parliamentarian, Mr. John Amaratunga, was quoted by the newspaper as saying the country would head towards destruction if the Government rushed through with the reforms.

It is not yet clear if a meeting scheduled for tomorrow between the ruling People's Alliance (PA) and the UNP will be held, with the Sri Lankan President, Mrs. Chandrika Kumaratunga, abroad.

At this meeting, the UNP is expected to communicate the decisions taken by its working committee and parliamentary group to the Government.

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