Deadline set for Sri Lankan devolution

The Sri Lankan government has set a deadline for the main opposition party to respond to its plans for devolution of power to the regions.

The Justice Minister, G L Peiris, said if the opposition UNP failed to respond by the end of the month, the government would consider holding a referendum on its plans to share wide-ranging powers with four regional councils including those dominated by the Tamil minorities.

The opposition UNP, whose support is crucial for changing the constitution, had asked for more time to consider the plan.

The BBC Colombo correspondent says the government is pinning its hopes on the devolution package to end the long separatist campaign by the Tamil rebels.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service