Sri Lanka’s powerful Buddhist clerics oppose granting political autonomy to Tamils
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Four leading bishops of the main Buddhist sects handed over a letter to Wickremesinghe in the city of Kandy. The letter alleged that Wickremesinghe’s plan has created discontent in the country as the move challenges Sri Lanka’s sovereignty.
Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s plan to fully implement the India-backed 13th Amendment to give political autonomy to minority Tamils suffered a setback on Thursday as powerful Buddhist clerics strongly opposed it, claiming it reflected the unitary nature of the country. challenges the Four leading bishops of the main Buddhist sects handed over a letter to Wickremesinghe in the city of Kandy. The letter alleged that Wickremesinghe’s plan has created discontent in the country as the move challenges Sri Lanka’s sovereignty.
The letter reminded Wickremesinghe that his predecessor did not proceed with the full implementation of the 13th Amendment because of the threat it posed to the country’s unity. The letter warned that the President should not try to do so and should not create a reason to incite public anger. President Wickremesinghe has underlined the need to fully implement the 13th Amendment to the Constitution to provide political autonomy to the minority Tamils in the country.
Last week, he offered full implementation of the 13th Amendment as a solution to the long-standing demand for political autonomy on behalf of the Tamil community in Sri Lanka. Amendment 13A provides for the transfer of power to the Tamil community in Sri Lanka. India has been pressurizing Sri Lanka to implement amendment 13A brought after the 1987 India-Sri Lanka accord. At the all-party meeting, Wickremesinghe said, “As the President, I am bound to implement the relevant law of the land.” He has to announce full implementation of 13A in his address to Parliament on February 8.
During his visit to Sri Lanka last month, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had stressed India’s desire to see full implementation of 13A. Wickremesinghe began talks with minority Tamil political groups in mid-December to bring about a reconciliation by February 4, the 75th anniversary of Sri Lanka’s independence from Britain. Sinhalese, mostly Buddhist, make up about 75 percent of Sri Lanka’s population of 22 million, while Tamils make up 15 percent.
Disclaimer:IndiaTheNews has not edited this news. This news has been published from PTI-language feed.
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