Sri Lanka debates key reforms

Sri Lanka's Buddhists are opposing the reforms

Sri Lanka's opposition leader, Ranil Wickremasinghe, has criticised President Chandrika Kumaratunga's proposals to reform the country's constitution.

The changes are aimed at ending the island's long-running separatist war.

Ranil Wickremasinghe: The war could widen

The proposals would devolve power to the regions, including one administered by minority Tamils.

President Kumaratunga says the debate represents the only hope for peace on the war-ravaged island.

But during a parliamentary debate on the issue, Mr Wickremasinghe said the problems of the Tamil people would not be solved and the war against Tamil Tiger separatists would widen as a result.

The final hour has come for all Buddhists to rise and protest

Buddhist monk Athuraliye Rathana

He accused the government of not carrying out enough consultations before presenting the bill to parliament and said most Sri Lankans had not been given a chance to read the new constitution.

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), which is fighting for a separate homeland for Sri Lankan Tamils, has already rejected the proposed reforms.

Security fears

The capital Colombo was under tight security as the debate began, with heavily armed police in positions at key locations around the parliament.

Three people were injured in a grenade attack

Three people were injured on Sunday when a grenade exploded outside a hall where Sinhalese nationalist opponents of the reforms were meeting.

Police blamed the explosion on Tamil Tiger rebels.

The changes are also opposed by Buddhist monks, who marched through Colombo's business district on Monday in silent protest.

Some monks began hunger strikes to urge the government to abandon the reforms.

"The final hour has come for all Buddhists to rise and protest this so-called new constitution," a monk, Athuraliye Rathana, told protesters.

Kumaratunga's challenge

President Kumaratunga wants the proposals to be endorsed before the current parliament ends its term on 24 August.

But she faces a daunting challenge.

Financial stakes are very high. It's not only cash, but houses and cars have also been offered

UNP chairman Karu Jayasuriya

The proposals require the support of 150 members in the 225-member house, but the main opposition United National Party (UNP) has already announced it will oppose the move.

President Kumaratunga is now banking on defections from smaller parties to push her reforms through.

But she has already received a setback with a government backbencher, Dixon Perera, crossing the floor of the house on Monday to join the opposition.

Buying votes

On Sunday, UNP chairman Karu Jayasuriya accused the ruling alliance of try to buy votes of opposition lawmakers.

"Financial stakes are very high," Mr Jayasuriya told Reuters news agency. "It's not only cash, but houses and cars have also been offered."

He dismissed speculation that some UNP members may defect, "but if they leave, we will be sorry for them"

The BBC's Alastair Lawson in Colombo says voting on the issue is likely to take place on Wednesday.

More than 60,000 people have died in the conflict between the government and the Tigers.