COLOMBO, February 5 (Xinhuanet) -- Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil
Wickremesinghe said Monday that amendments to the local government
ordinance would be introduced soon to accommodate petitions and
annual voting in village councils where election malpractice had
taken place, The Island newspaper said Tuesday.
    Speaking to the public after attending religious observances
to mark the country's 54th Independence Day, the prime minister
said a committee will be appointed with the participation of
opposition parties to ensure that a free and fair local government
election takes place while making recommendations to that effect.
    Elections commissioner will be given full powers under the
independent elections commission, said the report quoting the
prime minister.
    Wikcremesinghe also said that the government was looking for a
political solution to end the long-running ethnic war between the
government forces and the separatist Tamil Tiger rebels in the
north and east of the country by devolving power to minority
Tamils. 
    Both the government and Tamil rebels are observing their
unilateral ceasefire which started on the Christmas eve last year
and an agreement on permanent truce is hopefully to be signed
later this month by the two sides.  Enditem