However, asked whether she can decide to go for a non binding referendum on the question whether the Executive Presidency should be abolished, and convene a constituent assembly thereafter to change the constitution if she wins that referendum, he said “using the persuasive power of a non biding referendum as a rationale to convene a constituent assembly is illegal -- as it will interfere with the rights of franchise of the people.’’

“Any act done under powers of a constitution enacted in this way will not have the force of law,’’ he said. However, asked what the opposition can do if things come to such a pass he added “their only recourse will be the courts of law.’’ Asked further whether the courts of law in his opinion will be favourable to the opposition in any judgment that is returned in such an eventuality, he said “on that, you can only consult an astrologer.’’

No amendment to the constitution can be made under article 82 without a 2/3rds majority in Parliament – and a 2/3rds majority and a referendum in certain instances. Therefore any attempt to abolish the Executive Presidency without such a vote in parliament, will contravene the rights of franchise (…for election a President) granted in article 30, and in article 3 of the constitution read with article 4(e) which says that people shall exercise the right of franchise for election of the President of the Republic of Sri Lanka. Asked also whether two questions can be asked in one referendum he said that this can only be done if they are two separate questions for which the people can answer ‘yes’ or ‘no’ separately. Sources say that one possible plan of the government is to have two questions tied together in one referendum to be posed as one question such as ‘’Are you in favour of the abolition of the Executive Presidency and a Federal solution to the North East conflict?’’ According to Mr Choksy such a question will be illegal – unless it is broken into two parts for which the people can separately answer ‘yes’ or ‘no.’ Published: Fri Mar 18 01:34:52 EST 2005

Addressing a large number of Buddhist monks and youth at the end of a march protesting government moves to reform education, the IUSF convener Duminda Nagomuwa said that the UGC has given permission to the Aquinas institution to award degrees.

He claimed that this decision was taken "even before a year elapsed since the government promised not to privatise universities". More... Published: Fri Mar 18 04:35:39 EST 2005

Sri Lanka was hit hard by the Dec. 26 tsunami, which killed more than 174,000 people in 11 countries. Hundreds of thousands more were displaced and entire communities were washed away.

As part of the relief effort, the British government has offered to pay 10 percent of Sri Lanka's multilateral debts over the next 10 years, an amount estimated at US$80 million (euro60 million).

``This is a huge thing for a developing country,'' Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar said during a London visit. ``I am here very positively to thank, on behalf of the president of Sri Lanka and our people, the British government and the people of the U.K. for the immense assistance that they have given us over the tsunami.''

``The spontaneous outpouring of sympathy, grief and generosity is something quite phenomenal,'' he said.

Kadirgamar said the government is working closely with aid groups to ensure all donations are used appropriately.

Auditors have been hired to ensure government money is spent properly, but fraud and embezzlement cases have already appeared in Sri Lanka during the relief effort, the foreign minister said.

``Wherever there is money, there is fraud,'' Kadirgamar said. ``There have been one or two cases of fraud already stamped on in Sri Lanka. We must be accountable all the time.'' Published: Fri Mar 18 11:51:14 EST 2005