In the run-up to elections in two weeks' time, President Mahinda Rajapakse of Sri Lanka has offered the country's Tamil minority a bigger say in legislation if he is elected. He has promised to introduce more decentralisation.

The Tamils constitute over 12 percent of Sri Lanka's population and could play a deciding role in the presidential elections on 26 January. The Tamils' main political movement has given its backing to Mr Rajapakse's rival, former army commander Sarath Fonseka.

Last year the Sri Lankan army put an end to years of armed conflict with the Tamil Tiger rebel movement, who were fighting for an independent state. Mr Rajapakse says the end of the military struggle does not mean that the underlying conflict has been resolved.