COLOMBO, January 9: Sri Lanka's main Opposition United National Party (UNP) today rejected a Government deadline for the presentation of its devolution proposals to end the ethnic conflict, charging that it was aimed at covering up "corruption and mismanagement"."With corruption coming to the forefront, this seems to be a way of diverting attention," UNP leader and former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said.The UNP's support in Parliament is crucial for the enactment of Government's radical constitutional reforms proposals, including devolution of powers to the minority Tamils.Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister GL Peiris yesterday spelt out a January-end deadline for pushing forward the political reforms process and said it could not wait indefinitely for the UNP to present its proposals.The Government presented its draft new constitution to Parliament in September after a Parliamentary select committee deliberated various proposals for nearly three years.Wickremesinghe said the UNP had already presented a proposal to the Parliamentary panel for the setting up of an independent Election Commission. The other proposals would be sent "piece-meal" by January end or February, he added. He ridiculed the Government's threat to hold a referendum on its devolution proposals.
