Sri Lanka: President Ranil Wickremesinghe Backs 13th Amendment For Tamil Autonomy

President Ranil Wickremesinghe of Sri Lanka has voiced support for the India-backed 13th Amendment as a potential solution to address the longstanding demand for political autonomy from the minority Tamil community.

India has consistently urged Sri Lanka to implement the 13th Amendment, which outlines the devolution of power to the Tamil community, following the 1987 Indo-Sri Lankan agreement.

President Wickremesinghe, speaking to professionals in Jaffna, emphasized the need for devolution of power to be not just a political concept but an economic reality, reported The Hindu.

The 13th Amendment, integrated into Sri Lanka's constitution in 1987 with Indian intervention, established nine provincial councils and a temporary merger of the North and East.

Wickremesinghe encouraged the effective use of the powers within the 13th Amendment, suggesting that each province could independently pursue its development.

He pointed out the economic disparities among provinces, with the Western Province being financially independent while others rely on it.

However, his proposal to grant full powers, excluding police authority, faced opposition from the Buddhist clergy, expressing concerns about compromising Sri Lanka's unitary state.

Drawing parallels with other countries like Japan and the United Kingdom, the president highlighted the potential for developing functional regional economies within the framework of the 13th Amendment.

The Tamil community, historically advocating for autonomy, remains skeptical about the political will in the majority Sinhala south to fully implement the 13th Amendment.

The issue has been contentious since Sri Lanka gained independence in 1948.