NEWSLINKS
US EDITION
COLUMNISTS
DIARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
ELECTIONS
ARCHIVES

Search Rediff

Rediff Shopping

Shop & gift from thousands of products!   Books     Music       Apparel   Jewellery   Flowers   More..      Safe Shopping

Lankan SC orders referendum on constitutional reform

Sri Lanka's Supreme Court today ordered the government to hold a national referendum if it wanted to press ahead with a controversial move to turn the country into a de facto federal state.

The Supreme Court ruling, read out by parliament speaker K B Ratnayake at the emergency session, said the assembly must first approve the draft statute by two-thirds majority.

President Chandrika Kumaratunga was attending the special session of the house today when the draft bill to adopt a new constitution was moved amid escalating opposition within and outside parliament.

Nine political parties and individuals petitioned the Supreme Court yesterday to stop the statute bill going ahead.

Back to top

Tell us what you think of this report