The Sri Lankan government said Saturday it would go ahead with proposed constitutional reforms despite opposition being raised against the move from some quarters.

India had raised strong objections to diluting powers in the 13th Amendment to the constitution which was created following an agreement reached between India and Sri Lanka in 1987.

However, Sri Lanka's External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris said that India's views on the 13th Amendment was not being disregarded but yet parliament will be the final decision maker. "It does not mean India is not important to us. India is our neighbor. The president has often said that India is our relation. But in the end Sri Lanka's parliament will decide what is best for us," he said.

The external affairs minister said this after briefing the Chief Prelates of two respected Temples in Sri Lanka's central Kandy town on Saturday on the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting as well as the 13th Amendment to the constitution. "The Commonwealth summit is a good opportunity for those who speak against the government to come and see for themselves what we have done," he said.

He also said that the current constitution is outdated and needs to be changed and it was for that reason that the Parliament Select Committee was appointed and it will meet for the first time next week.

The minister said that external pressure on the PSC process will not have any impact and the process will go ahead as scheduled.

He said that the Sri Lankan government hopes the opposition takes part in the Parliament Select Committee process but if they refuse to do so, the process will still go ahead.