Colombo: Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has asked his partymen to be prepared for either a snap election or a referendum on his plans to curb President Chandrika Kumaratunga's powers.

Ruling United National Party (UNP) officials said he had told a meeting of its working committee on October 7 that they should prepare for some sort of a ballot relating to the proposed 19th amendment to the Constitution.

A seven-judge Bench of the Supreme Court has concluded hearing on the validity of the amendment, which seeks to curb Kumaratunga's power to dissolve Parliament on her own and transfer the power to the House itself.

The Court has the option of striking down the amendment, either fully or partially, or rule that it needs to be approved by the people at a referendum. Its ruling is expected shortly. It can be taken up for passage in Parliament only after it is upheld by the Court.

The government has given broad hints that it may prefer to go for a snap general election in the event of the court rejecting the amendment, as it may mean that Parliament may be in danger of dissolution any time after December 5 at the hands of President Kumaratunga.

Party officials say that the government, which claims to have the required two- thirds majority to get the amendment passed in Parliament, will not mind a referendum, if the court directs one, as it may be another opportunity to demonstrate popular support for its peace process and plans to clip the President's wide executive powers.

PTI