Sri Lankan President Wickremesinghe to press ahead with 13th Amendment for reconciliation with minority Tamils
The Hindu
Sri Lanka Pres. Wickremesinghe plans to implement 13th Amendment to reconcile with Tamil minority. India's PM Modi supports 13A, but Sinhala majority parties fear it could lead to separation.
Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe plans to press ahead with his quest for the full implementation of the 13th Amendment as part of his reconciliation efforts with the country's minority Tamil community, Presidential officials said on Wednesday.
The minority Tamil community in Sri Lanka has been demanding the implementation of the 13th Amendment that provides for devolution of power to it.
The 13th Amendment (13A) was brought in after the India-Sri Lanka agreement of 1987. It created 9 provinces as devolved units with a temporary merger of the Northern and Eastern provinces.
Presidential officials said Mr. Wickremesinghe would deliver a speech in Parliament next week when it is reconvened for its regular session.
"The President will outline his plan to implement it with all powers that could be granted to provincial councils," an official said.
During an all-party meeting last month, Mr. Wickremesinghe had said that all powers, except police powers, could be granted to the councils.
He would also submit to Parliament all proposals received from different political parties on the full implementation of the 13A.
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