The 13th Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka

The 13th Amendment to the Constitution of Sri
Lanka

The 13th Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka The 13th Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka was passed in 1987. It provides for the devolution of power to the provinces, including the Northern and Eastern provinces, which are predominantly Tamil-speaking. The amendment has not been fully implemented, and there is no consensus among political parties in Sri Lanka on whether or not it should be implemented.

1: Is it possible for the Sri Lankan government to implement the 13th Amendment soon?

The current President of Sri Lanka, Ranil Wickremesinghe, has said that he is committed to implementing the 13th Amendment. However, he has also said that he will need to get the support of all political parties in Parliament in order to do so. It is unclear whether or not he will be able to get this support. There are a number of factors that could affect the implementation of the 13th Amendment. These include the political situation in Sri Lanka, the attitude of the Sinhalese majority, and the willingness of the Tamil minority to compromise.

• If the political situation in Sri Lanka remains unstable, it will be difficult to implement the 13th Amendment.

• The Sinhalese majority, who are the majority in the country, are also opposed to the amendment. They believe that it will give too much power to the Tamil minority.

• The Tamil minority, on the other hand, is demanding that the 13th Amendment be fully implemented. They believe that it is the only way to achieve lasting peace in Sri Lanka. It is possible that the Sri Lankan government will be able to implement the 13th Amendment soon. However, it is also possible that it will take some time to get the necessary support. The political situation in Sri Lanka is very fluid, and it is difficult to predict what will happen in the future.

2: Who opposes the implementation of the 13th Amendment?

The 13th Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka is opposed by a number of groups, including:

• Sinhala nationalist parties: These parties believe that the amendment will give too much power to the Tamil minority and weaken the unity of the country.

• The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP): The SLPP is the current ruling party in Sri Lanka. It is led by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who is a Sinhala nationalist. The SLPP has opposed the implementation of the 13th Amendment in the past.

• The Buddhist clergy: The Buddhist clergy is a powerful force in Sri Lanka. They have also opposed the implementation of the 13th Amendment, arguing that it will undermine the unity of the country and the supremacy of Buddhism.

• The military: The Sri Lankan military has also opposed the implementation of the 13th Amendment. They believe that it will weaken their control over the provinces.

3: What are the views of the Tamil minority on the 13th Amendment? The Tamil minority, on the other hand, is demanding that the 13th Amendment be fully implemented. They believe that it is the only way to achieve lasting peace in Sri Lanka.

• Some Tamil groups and political parties, such as the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), believe that the 13th Amendment does not go far enough in devolving power to the provinces and that it does not address the historical grievances of the Tamil minority.

• Other Tamil groups and political parties, such as Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF) believe that the 13th Amendment is a sham and that it does not address the root causes of the conflict.

4: What are the key points of the 13th Amendment?

The 13th Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka provides for the following:

• The establishment of provincial councils with powers over a range of subjects, including agriculture, education, health, and local government.

• The devolution of power to the provinces, including the power to raise taxes and borrow money.

• The recognition of Tamil as an official language in the Northern and Eastern provinces.

5: Who would benefit the most from the implementation of the 13th Amendment?

It is difficult to say definitively who would benefit the most from the implementation of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka. The amendment provides for the devolution of power to the provinces, including the Northern and Eastern provinces, which are predominantly Tamil[1]speaking. This would give the Tamil minority more control over their own affairs, and it is likely that they would benefit the most from this. However, the amendment would also benefit other ethnic groups, such as the Indian Tamils and Muslims.