Sinhalese hardliners urge govt. to trim powers of regional council over fears of 'new war'

Sri Lankan hardliners have reportedly urged the country's president, Mahinda Rajapakse, to trim the powers of the regional council, won by Tamils, warning them of a 'new war' after elections.

The National Heritage Party said that the first semi-autonomous body won by the minority Tamil National Alliance (TNA) could eventually lead to the division of the island on ethnic lines.

A leader of the JHU, which is a coalition partner of Rajapakse's government, Udaya Gammanpila said that the real war has just begun, as the TNA won 30 out of 38 seats in polls for a provincial council in Jaffna, but ruled directly by the president until elections in an area scarred by ethnic strife, Daily Times reports.

Gammanpila said that the TNA will revive the separatists' campaign through the provincial council adding that the country is entering a new phase of war which will not be fought with guns and bombs and urged the government that it was not too late to reduce the powers of the council, the report added.