Key vote for Sri Lanka

The conflict has claimed military and civilian casualties

By Alastair Lawson in Colombo

The Sri Lankan President, Chandrika Kumaratunga, faces one of the most important periods of her six years in power on Thursday when she presents her plans to change the constitution in parliament.

Devolution plan facts

Federal powers for provinces

More power to president

Must get two-thirds majority

Opposed by many Buddhist clerics

The devolution proposals in the reform package are the culmination of efforts by the president to bring an end to the country's 16-year-old civil war, which has resulted in 60,000 deaths.

She hopes that by allowing more autonomy to the provinces of Sri Lanka, Tamil Tiger rebels may eventually be persuaded to abandon their campaign for an independent homeland in the north and east of the country.

'Last chance'

The state-run Daily News has described the constitutional reform proposals as the last chance for peace.

It says that for the first time since Sri Lanka's independence a constitution suitable for all sections of society is being placed before parliament.

Sri Lankan Buddhists: Many oppose devolution

Yet President Kumaratunga knows that her chances of getting the 150 votes she needs for the changes to be passed by parliament are finely balanced.

Senior government ministers are frantically lobbying the smaller parties to try and win their support.

They are even making approaches for members of the opposition United National Party to defy their party leadership and vote in support of the government.

For President Kumarantunga these constitutional reforms are crucial.

Federal plan

They are the key parts of her policy, not just in relation to the war but in the way Sri Lanka is governed.

If the changes go ahead, Sri Lanka in effect will become a federal state in which President Kumaratunga will wield even more influence than she does today.

The president wants parliament to approve the proposals before it adjourns later this month, ahead of elections that are due to be held around October.

But her plans have been strongly criticised by the UNP - even though last month it and the government made what they said was an historic consensus agreement on the fundamental aspects of the reform package.

The opposition now accuse the president of rushing her proposals through parliament without carrying out enough consultation.

They have protested that the government hasn't sufficiently canvased the opinions of the country's influential Buddhist monks.

So far the government hasn't given any indication when the vote on the constitutional changes will take place but many officials expect it to be towards the end of next week.