UNF sets deadline for Chandrika

The ruling United National Front (UNF) government has set a deadline for President Chandrika Kumaratunga to give her consent for proposed constitutional amendments further deepening the crisis between the two sides.

The cabinet of ministers at the meeting presided over by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday gave their approval for the proposed amendment and set September 3 as the deadline for the president to give her proposals on the amendment.

The cabinet decided that the amendments will be presented in Parliament on September 10, virtually indicating that objections from the president will not be taken into account.

The amendments are being introduced to curb the powers of the president to dissolve parliament and enabling members to vote according to their conscience without following orders from their respective parties.

The cabinet went ahead and took up the draft at the meeting despite a directive by the president insisting that matters related to her authority should not be discussed in her absence.

President Kumaratunga flew to London last week on a private visit, but had not returned until yesterday.

The presidential secretariat on Tuesday challenged the validity of the cabinet action and the amendment itself.

The government needs the support of MPs from Kumaratunga's main opposition People's Alliance (PA) party if it is to secure the two-thirds majority in parliament to pass the amendment.