GL told India Government needed more time to implement 13A: Tissa

Calling on the Government to release information about what transpired at the meeting between External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris and Indian Premier Manmohan Singh during the Sri Lanka-India Joint Commission two weeks ago, UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake said that the Government had begged New Delhi for more time to implement the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.

Attanayake said that there had been no official communiqué endorsed by both countries following Peiris’ meeting with the Indian Prime Minister.

“The Government told India that because of pressure from their coalition partners they were unable to implement the 13th Amendment,” Attanayake said, adding that the Sri Lankan Minister had requested Premier Singh for more time.

The 13th Amendment to the Constitution devolves certain powers to the provinces. It was designed by New Delhi as a basis for providing some political autonomy to the Tamil people of the north and east in 1987. The Government and its coalition partners have spoken in the recent past of repealing the amendment.

Attanayake said it was the duty of the Government which undertook the Indian visit on taxpayers’ money to inform the public of the true nature of the discussions with Indian officials.