In Sri Lanka, the Tamil leadership has stressed on the need for holding a referendum to approve a new constitution in order to achieve reconciliation with ethnic minorities. <br/><br/>Addressing a seminar titled 'Reconciliation through Constitution' in Colombo last evening, Tamil MP and eminent lawyer M A Sumanthiran said they will push for holding a referendum even though it faces the threat of defeat. Mr Sumanthiran, who represents Tamil National Alliance (TNA), asserted that ethnic conflict has its roots in 1972 and 1978 constitution which relegated Tamil language and culture to a secondary position and needs to be corrected for achieving long- term peace. He clarified that Tamil leadership is for a united, undivided Sri Lanka but there is need for more power devolution to minority provinces so that they can manage their day to day affairs.<br/><br/>The Tamil MP's suggestions were vehemently contested by other panelists, mostly Sinhala Buddhists, thus showing the divided polity of the country. The present government had passed a resolution in Parliament last year for drafting a new constitution and getting it approved through a two-thirds Parliamentary vote and a referendum. However, Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) led by President Sirisena is dragging its foot on the resolution. Some SLFP leaders have been maintaining that they will not support any amendments which require a referendum.