Sri Lanka opposition not to go beyond 13A to settle Tamil issue

“We aim to arrive at a solution acceptable to all by strengthening the provincial and local governments by not venturing beyond the 13A,” the manifesto released here by former strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa’s United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) for the August 17 parliamentary election said. 

Previously the UPFA under ex-president <g data-gr-id="23">Rajapaksa,</g> had pledged for a solution beyond powers of the 13A. The 13A amendment of the Constitution which outlined provincial councils for the island’s nine provinces, including the Tamil-majority north, came about as a result of the Indian government’s intervention in 1987 during the height of the civil war with the LTTE.

Rajapaksa, who was defeated by Maithripala Sirisena in January’s presidential election, has taken the unprecedented step for a former president to run for the national parliament.

He said he was contesting a seat in the upcoming polls to ensure Tamil-dominated areas do not slip back into conflict.

“Criminal activity has increased in the north... it is becoming a dangerous situation. If things were all right, there would be no need for me to come back and contest elections,” he said at the manifesto launch.

The manifesto did not say why the party had decided to limit its quest for <g data-gr-id="27">solution</g> to the ethnic question to 13A, but observers said it was aimed at winning over hardline Sinhalese who <g data-gr-id="25">oppose</g> power-sharing with Tamils.

“We shall strengthen our relations with our neighbour India and other Asian nations by discarding the current West favoured foreign policy,” the manifesto said in its foreign policy goals.