Ranil to press ahead with 13A; Expected to address Parliament next week

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.

India's The Hindu website quoting officials from the Sri Lankan President's Office said that 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.

The Hindu website quoted Presidential officials who said President Wickremesinghe would deliver a speech in Parliament next week when it is reconvened for its regular session.

The official from the President's Office said that the President will outline his plan to implement it with all powers that could be granted to provincial councils.

During an all-party meeting last month, Wickremesinghe had said that all powers, except police powers, could be granted to the councils.

However, the main Tamil party — the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) — was adamant about holding the stalled provincial council elections at the talks.