{"id":75407,"date":"2022-01-10T01:11:47","date_gmt":"2022-01-10T05:11:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=75407"},"modified":"2022-01-10T21:29:02","modified_gmt":"2022-01-11T01:29:02","slug":"indo-lanka-accord-thirteenth-amendment-and-the-tamil-march-of-folly","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=75407","title":{"rendered":"Indo-Lanka Accord, Thirteenth Amendment and the Tamil March of Folly"},"content":{"rendered":"

By
\nD.B.S.Jeyaraj<\/strong><\/p>\n

Much concern is now being shown by political parties representing the minority (numerical) ethnicities of Sri Lanka over the 13th Amendment to the Constitution. As is well known it is the 13th Constitutional Amendment which ushered n a certain quantum of devolution to the country through the setting up of Provincial Councils. 13 A itself was due to the historic India-Sri Lanka agreement signed by Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Sri Lankan President Junius Richard Jayewardene on July 29th 1987. The Indo-Lanka Accord at that time brought an end to the ongoing armed conflict between the Sri Lankan armed forces and the Tamil militant organisations.<\/p>\n

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Indo-Lanka Accord signing<\/p><\/div>\n

The accord among other things bestowed upon India the responsibility (shared with Sri Lanka) of ensuring and protecting the security and safety of all communities living in the Northern and Eastern Provinces of Sri Lanka. Clause 2.16(e) says: \u201cThe Governments of Sri Lanka and India will cooperate in ensuring the physical security and safety of all communities inhabiting the Northern and Eastern Provinces.\u201d<\/p>\n

While the Sri Lankan Government agreed to implement the proposals outlined in the accord, clause 2.14 stated: \u201cThe Government of India will underwrite and guarantee the resolutions, and co-operate in the implementation of these proposals.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Indo-Lanka Accord provided India a permanent \u201csay\u201d in the affairs of Sri Lanka as it had to underwrite the resolutions and guarantee their implementation. Also, it was \u2013 in theory at least \u2013 responsible for the safety and security of all people living in the north and east. <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Even after decades of interaction with our giant neighbour, Sri Lanka is yet to comprehend the nature of relations vis-\u00e0-vis India and understand the basics of Indian policy towards it. Sections of opinion within both the Sinhalese and Tamil communities share alike this inability or unwillingness to recognise the reality of what actually prevails at ground level, namely the 13th Amendment (13 A) to the Sri Lankan Constitution facilitated by India through the Indo-Lanka Accord.Interestingly both Sinhalese and Tamil hardliners are united in their opposition to 13A for different reasons.<\/p>\n

The Indo-Lanka treaty has been \u201cforgotten\u201d for many years but nevertheless it remains valid. Provisions of the accord could be activated if and when necessary. Until and unless both countries jointly repudiate it, the Indo-Lanka Agreement will continue to be there. It cannot be unilaterally abrogated by one country.<\/p>\n

Minority Party Meeting<\/strong><\/p>\n

In a significant political move, several political parties of the Sri Lankan Tamils, Muslims and Hill Country Tamils met in Colombo on December 12th and engaged in discussions aimed at demanding full implementation of the 13th amendment. A news report by the Colombo correspondent of \u201cThe Hindu\u201d Meera Srinivasan provided pertinent details of the Colombo meeting. Here are a few excerpts \u2013<\/p>\n

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R. Sampanthan<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cA group of Opposition MPs in Sri Lanka, representing Tamils from the north and east, hill country (Malaiyaha Tamils), and Tamil-speaking Muslims on Sunday sought the full implementation of the 13th Amendment to ensure \u201cexisting rights are not snatched away\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe contentious 13th Amendment, born out of the Indo-Lanka Accord of 1987, has remained in Sri Lanka\u2019s Constitution for nearly four decades without seeing full implementation, as successive regimes in Colombo have refused to part with power over crucial areas including land, and law and order.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSome within the Rajapaksa administration are calling for its repeal deeming the provincial councils, created consequent to the Amendment, \u201cwhite elephants\u201d. The 13th Amendment is the only legislative guarantee thus far for a measure of power devolution that many in the southern Sinhala majority consider \u201ctoo much\u201d, and most in the Tamil polity consider \u201ctoo little\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cIndia has repeatedly asked the Sri Lankan leadership to ensure the full implementation of the 13th Amendment. While Colombo has in turn given many assurances to \u201cgo beyond\u201d the legislation, to ensure meaningful devolution, \u201cthat has not happened so far,\u201d said senior Tamil politician and Tamil National Alliance Leader R. Sampanthan. \u201cWe have gathered today from different political parties to discuss the situation. We exchanged our views on the subject, and will be taking this discussion forward,\u201d he told a press conference, following the MPs\u2019 meet at a Colombo hotel on Sunday.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is now talk of a new Constitution, but simultaneously we see the government\u2019s efforts such as \u2018One Country One Law\u2019,\u201d the 88-year-old Trincomalee parliamentarian said, of an ongoing initiative of the government that critics fear might further impair even the limited legislative powers of the Provincial Councils\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cSri Lanka\u2019s nine Provincial Councils are defunct for about two years, after their terms lapsed in 2018 and 2019. \u201cMeanwhile, the Centre through various presidential task forces is trying to snatch our powers. If that has to be stopped, we must emphasise our rights highlighting what is guaranteed in our Constitution,\u201d said Rauf Hakeem, Sri Lanka Muslim Congress Leader and legislator.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Mano Ganesan<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cThe parliamentarians will finalise a \u201ccomprehensive document\u201d by December 21, said Mano Ganesan, Leader of the Tamil Progressive Alliance that represents Malaiyaha Tamils.\u201cWe are challenging this government and asking them to fully implement what is already in our Constitution. Nothing has changed in this country 12 years after the war ended. Our message is not only to the Sri Lankan leadership, but also to India, the international community and UN bodies,\u201d he said. As a signatory to the Accord of 1987, \u201cIndia has an obligation,\u201d Mr. Ganesan added. The final document coming out of the discussion would also be sent to Prime Minister Narendranew Constitution Modi, according to the organisers.\u201d<\/p>\n

Appeal to India to Safeguard PC System<\/strong><\/p>\n

It is indeed commendable that some Tamil and Muslim parties are displaying interest in preserving the 13th amendment and seeking full implementation of its provisions. Recent happenings like the appointment of the \u201cOne Country,one Law\u201dPresidential Task Force headed by controversial Buddhist monk Gnanasara Thero and the moves underway to promulgate a new Constittion have increased apprehensions among the Tamil and Muslim parties. There is fear that the substance and unit of devolution would be eliminated or drastically eroded.Hence the envisaged appeal to India to safeguard the Provincial councils and ensure full implemtation of powers provided by the Constitution.Better late than never!<\/p>\n

The potential danger to the 13th Constitutional Amendment and the Provincial council scheme under the Rajapaksa regime was anticipated by this writer even before the 2020 August Parliamentary elections took place. \u201cTNA Must Seek India\u2019s Help To Protect 13th Amendment\u201d was the heading of an article written by me that was published in the \u201cDaily Mirror\u201d of July 25th 2020. In that article I appealed to the Tamil National Alliance – the premier political configuration of the Sri Lankan Tamils- to take steps with New Delhi\u2019s help to safeguard 13 A.Here are some relevant excerpts –<\/p>\n

\u201cThe TNA does not seem to have realised that the Rajapaksa rationale for a new Constitution and the Constitutional reform aspirations of the party are incompatible at the present juncture. The Rajapaksa regime wants to reduce or do away with the powers of the Provincial council while the TNA like Oliver Twist wants \u201cMore\u201d, as it is of the firm opinion that the powers of devolution available is inadequate both in quantity and quality. The TNA manifesto illustrates this clearly. \u201c <\/p>\n

The TNA\u2019s election manifesto for the 2020 parliamentary polls states that \u201cthe present constitutional arrangements are inadequate, unsatisfactory and impose majoritarian hegemony on the Tamil People. Democracy in a plural society cannot function effectively without a constitutional framework that provides for equity, equality, justice, peace and security\u201d. It also notes that \u201cthe Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka is flawed in that, power is concentrated at the centre and its agent, the Governor.\u201d The TNA manifesto goes on to say \u201cIt is through a constitutional arrangement on the model of federalism within a united Sri Lanka that the legitimate aspirations of the Sri Lankan Tamils and other Tamil speaking inhabitants of the northern and eastern parts of the island could be met. In fact, such an arrangement has become indispensable for their survival.\u201d <\/p>\n

Politics- the Art of the Possible<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThe TNA or for that matter the Tamil people are well within their rights to demand greater devolution or federalism. They are even entitled to exercise their inalienable right of self-determination and espouse secession or seek a separate state. The problem is how do you achieve it when the overwhelming majority in the country are against it? The harsh reality that the Tamil people have experienced since independence from the British is that, the Sinhala people were not for federalism or even maximum devolution. In such a situation, a pragmatic course to follow would have been adherence to Prussian Statesman Prince Otto Von Bismarck\u2019s saying \u201cPolitics is the art of the possible, the attainable \u2014 the art of the next best\u201d. <\/p>\n

\u201cThis did not happen with the Sri Lankan Tamil political leaders. Instead they opted for secession which resulted subsequently in an armed struggle. Sri Lanka was embroiled in a three decade long civil war that left the Tamils a battered and shattered people. Instead of opting pragmatically for the \u201cnext best\u201d, the Tamils chose to pursue what could be termed with the wisdom of hindsight, as a \u201cfar worse\u201d one.<\/p>\n

In a political environment where the objective conditions for gaining federalism or devolution did not exist, how was it possible to create a conducive climate for secession? Likewise, in a situation where the ruling regime wants to abolish or minimize the little devolution that is available, would it be possible to engage in meaningful negotiations aimed at maximizing devolution through Constitutional reform? <\/p>\n

\u201cThis does not mean that the Tamil people have to meekly accept the diktat of the Rajapaksa govt. and cave in subserviently. Injustice and oppression has to be resisted and fought against through legitimate avenues. The search for greater devolution must not be abandoned totally. At the same time, one must be realistic. \u201c <\/p>\n

\u201cInstead of day-dreaming about getting quasi-federalism through discussions with the Rajapaksa regime, the TNA needs to safeguard and consolidate what has been gained so far. In short, the TNA and the Tamil people have to work with what has been attained and strive further for the attainable, instead of neglecting what is available on ground and yearning for the desirable that is unattainable.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cThe need of the hour is to preserve and protect what has been gained. The govt. plans to abolish or emasculate the 13th amendment and provincial councils, must be foiled. What is necessary at this point of time, is to safeguard the 13A and provincial council scheme.\u201d<\/p>\n

This writer is somewhat glad that some Tamil and Muslim parties have adopted a position seeking to protect and preserve the 13 A brought about by the Indo-Lanka accord.It may be appropriate at this juncture to briefly examine the situation that prevailed in 1987 when the Indo-Lanka Accord was enacted and the events that led to it. I have in the past written extensively on these matters and would therefore rely on some of my earlier writings in this regard.<\/p>\n

Benign Intervention<\/strong><\/p>\n

Indian involvement in the affairs of its neighbours has been described as \u201cbenign intervention\u201d by Indian academics and analysts. Benign intervention also served India\u2019s interests in the region. Such is the nature of international relations.<\/p>\n

The undermining of the Rana family and empowerment of the Shah dynasty in Nepal, the dismemberment of Pakistan and creation of Bangladesh, the Indo-Lanka Accord and induction of the Indian Army as a peace-keeping force in Sri Lanka and the quick action in Maldives to crush a coup d\u2019etat aided by Sri Lankan Tamil militants of the PLOTE (People\u2019s Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam) are some instances of Indian benign intervention.<\/p>\n

All countries have their own interests at heart and smaller entities identifying common interests with larger entities and harmonising accordingly have greater chances of bettering the prospects for themselves. In the case of Sri Lanka the twin tenets of basic Indian policy was preserving the unity and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka on the one hand and ensuring the rights of the minorities particularly the Sri Lankan Tamils on the other.<\/p>\n

The 1983 July anti-Tamil pogrom saw more than 100,000 Tamils fleeing to Tamil Nadu as refugees. Instead of reaching out to the affected victims of the July 1983 pogrom and alleviating their hardship, the J.R. Jayewardene regime was hell-bent on appeasing the majority. The Government introduced the sixth amendment to the Constitution disavowing separatism. All MPs were required to take an oath to that effect to retain Parliamentary membership. The Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) with 16 MPs in Parliament refused to take the oath on a matter of principle. As a result they forfeited their seats. The Sri Lankan Tamil voice was effectively driven away from Parliament.<\/p>\n

100,000 refugees on Indian Soil<\/strong><\/p>\n

Several ex-Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) MPs including Opposition Leader Appapillai Amirthalingam took up residence in Tamil Nadu. With more than 100,000 refugees on its soil providing a \u2018locus standi\u2019, New Delhi offered its good offices to mediate and bring about a negotiated political settlement. There was an imperative need for India to intervene at that stage.<\/p>\n

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TULF meeting in 1977 – Mr Amirthalingam speaking, seated – Mr Sivasithamparam, Mr Rajalingam and Mr Soosaithasan<\/p><\/div>\n

The Sri Lankan Tamil issue was a crucial emotional issue for Tamil Nadu at that time. There was a fear that the mood may turn volatile and result in a law and order crisis. Also there had been a flourishing secessionist movement in Tamil Nadu at one time. It had been checked and transformed democratically. The former Tamil separatists were well integrated into the Indian fabric. Now there was apprehension that the fabric may be torn and separatist tendencies revived because of the Sri Lankan Tamil crisis impacting on Tamil Nadu.<\/p>\n

If secession was encouraged in Sri Lanka that could have a demonstration effect on other states including Tamil Nadu in India. If the Tamils were allowed to be continuously victimised in Sri Lanka that too could radicalise Tamil Nadu in the long term. These parameters necessitated in India fashioning policy ensuring both the unity of Sri Lanka as well as Tamil rights.<\/p>\n

The fundamental difference in New Delhi policy towards Pakistan in 1971 and Sri Lanka in 1987 was that in the case of the former it suited Indian interests to fracture Pakistan and create Bangladesh while in the case of the latter, Indian interests were better served by preventing dismemberment of Sri Lanka and unifying the island.<\/p>\n

The issue had an additional aspect too. New Delhi at that time feared an arc of encirclement by \u201chostile\u201d forces. India feared a Washington-Tel Aviv-Islamabad axis. The Jayewardene Government was seen as a Western puppet and lackey. It was necessary therefore to win over Colombo and bring Sri Lanka within the Indian orbit. The Tamil issue provided an opportunity to de-stabilise Sri Lanka and pressure Jayawardena into submitting to Delhi diktat.<\/p>\n

Three Basic Reasons<\/strong><\/p>\n

In Short there were three basic reasons for Indian intervention in Sri Lanka then. Firstly, the Jayewardene Government was spurning \u201cnon-alignment\u201d and taking Sri Lanka into a pro-Western orbit. Under prevailing conditions of the day New Delhi feared a Washington-Tel Aviv-Islamabad axis. India needed to bring Sri Lanka to \u201cheel\u201d and keep out undesirable elements out of the region.<\/p>\n

Secondly, there was the domestic imperative. There was much concern in Tamil Nadu for the plight of Tamils in Sri Lanka. Tamil Nadu was once home to a flourishing separatist movement. India was concerned about the fallout from Sri Lanka on Tamil Nadu if the conflict escalated here.<\/p>\n

The third was the unacknowledged personality factor. It is a fact that basic policy is formulated by the bureaucracy in India and the political executive is guided by it. However individual leaders by force of their personality may effect a change in the style of implementation but cannot effectively change the substance of policy.<\/p>\n

\u201cCow and Calf\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

What happened here was that the then Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was not very fond of President Jayewardene or Prime Minister Premadasa. When Indira Gandhi and son Sanjay Gandhi lost the elections in the 1977 March Indian elections, the UNP leaders began saying the \u201ccow and calf\u201d will lose here too alluding to Sirima and Anura. JR cosied up to Indira\u2019s bete noir Morarji Desai. On the other hand Indira enjoyed close rapport with TULF leaders, particularly Amirthalingam. The TULF had loyally stood by her in defeat. This personality factor also played a significant part in the politics of that time.<\/p>\n

This confluence of factors deemed it necessary that India:<\/strong><\/p>\n

1) Undertake a \u201cbenign\u201d intervention in Sri Lanka to help resolve the ethnic conflict within a united Sri Lanka but in a manner acceptable to Tamils;<\/p>\n

2) Force Colombo accept New Delhi\u2019s hegemony over the region and appreciate Indian security concerns;<\/p>\n

3) Teach the Jayewardene regime a lesson while rewarding the TULF.<\/p>\n

Two-track Policy<\/strong><\/p>\n

The July 1983 anti-Tamil pogrom created an opportunity for India to step in and offer its \u201cgood offices\u201d to bring about ethnic reconciliation. So Gopalaswamy Parthasarathy became India\u2019s official emissary tasked with evolving political rapprochement. But India followed a two-track policy. Tamil militant groups were trained and armed and housed on Indian soil. They were allowed to run political cum propaganda offices in Tamil Nadu publicly.<\/p>\n

India\u2019s objectives were clear. New Delhi wanted to use the Tamil militants as a cutting edge to de-stabilise the Jayewardene regime and also exert pressure on Colombo to deliver a political settlement. Once a viable solution was arrived at, the Tamil armed struggle was expected to end. Tamil Eelam was never ever on the cards.But the Tamils were not to be abandoned entirely. India would underwrite a political solution and maintain a physical armed presence in north east Sri Lanka to protect the Tamils and help to implement the political solution.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile Indira Gandhi was assassinated and her son Rajiv Gandhi succeeded her. Rajiv\u2019s ascendancy saw the veteran Gopalaswamy Parthasarathy being ousted as India\u2019s special envoy to Sri Lanka on the Tamil issue. Foreign Secretary Romesh Bhandari functioned as emissary. Despite these changes the basic continuity in policy remained.<\/p>\n

There were many twists and turns but India\u2019s strategy worked to a great extent. After the military operation in Vadamaratchy in May 1987 it appeared that Colombo was on the verge of wiping out the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). At that stage India demonstrated very clearly to Colombo that it would not be allowed to crush Tamil militancy. India violated Sri Lankan air space and dropped food parcels over the Jaffna peninsula on 4 June 1987.<\/p>\n

To his credit Jayawardena read the writing on the wall correctly. He caved into Indian pressure and bowed. The Indo-Lanka Accord was signed on 29 July 1987. That treaty gave India a right to be involved in the affairs of Sri Lanka.<\/p>\n

Multi-ethnic, Multi-religious<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Indo-Lanka Accord was not perfect. It did not rectify all problems concerning Tamils. But it provided a good and great beginning. The Indo-Lanka Accord recognised Sri Lanka as a multi-ethnic, multi-religious nation. Thus both the mono-ethnic claims of Sinhala supremacists and the two nation theory of Tamil separatists were negated.<\/p>\n

It recognised the Northern and Eastern Provinces as historic areas of habitation of the Tamil and Muslim people where they lived with other ethnicities. Thus the Tamils and Muslim right of historic habitation was recognised but there were no exclusive rights. The north-eastern region belonged to all ethnicities.<\/p>\n

Moreover the opportunity to create a single Tamil linguistic province was made available at that time. Both provinces were temporarily merged with the proviso that a referendum should be held in the Eastern province to either approve or reject the merger.<\/p>\n

A scheme providing devolution of powers on a provincial basis was brought in. Provincial Councils with powers allocated on provincial, concurrent and reserved basis were set up. Tamil was elevated to Official Language status. All those convicted of \u201cterrorist\u201d offences were given official pardon. All militants who took to arms were given a general amnesty.<\/p>\n

13 A Supeme Court Ruling<\/strong><\/p>\n

The 13th Constitutional Amendment was drafted in Colombo. An Indian Constitutional lawyer was consulted in an advisory capacity. Given the opposition mounted by the SLFP and JVP then it was feared that any Constitutional amendment requiring an island-wide referendum would not be ratified if the Supreme Court decreed so.Thus the powers and composition of the envisaged Provincial Councils through the 13th Amendment were somewhat restricted. The Supreme Court allowed it without a referendum because of this. Even then the nine-Judge bench was divided five to four.<\/p>\n

New Delhi however extracted a promise in writing from JR on 7 November 1987 that he would devolve more powers to the PCs within a specific timeframe. But events took a different turn and this promise was never adhered to by JR or successive regimes. The LTTE started fighting the Indian Army. This transformed the situation.<\/p>\n

When the accord was signed and Indian soldiers arrived in the Island as \u201cpeacekeepers\u201d the predominantly Sinhala \u201csouth\u201d protested vehemently. But the Tamils of the north-east welcomed the \u201cjawans\u201d wholeheartedly. Within months the situation reversed when the Tigers took on the Indian Army.<\/p>\n

In the words of Jayewardene, \u201cthe referee was now fighting in the ring\u201d. The image of the IPKF underwent a change from that of \u201cIndian Peace Keeping Force\u201d to \u201cInnocent People Killing Force\u201d. When the Indian Army left Lankan shores in 1990, there were few to mourn its departure.<\/p>\n

A \u201cConvergence\u201dnot \u201cIdentity\u201dof Interests<\/strong><\/p>\n

Primarily, India was acting in its own interest. There was no \u201cidentity\u201d of interests between India and the Tamils but there was certainly a \u201cconvergence\u201d of interests between both. But this congruence had its limits.<\/p>\n

Using the armed struggle for separatism as a pressuring device or bargaining tool was acceptable. But prolonging the struggle for a separate state in defiance of New Delhi was unacceptable. India was all for autonomy within a united Sri Lanka but opposed to Tamil Eelam.<\/p>\n

Pragmatically, the best option was for the Sri Lankan Tamils to hitch their \u201cvandil\u201d(wagon) to the Indian star and accept the settlement provided through Indian efforts. The Tamils had a large support base in Tamil Nadu among fellow Tamils which could have been utilised to pressure New Delhi.If the Tamils were politically astute they could have accepted the accord as a starting point and then gradually enhanced devolution to the point of quasi-federalism. In this exercise, India would have been on the side of the Tamils.<\/p>\n

North East \u201cSpecial Status\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

In practice, north-east Sri Lanka would have enjoyed a \u201cspecial\u201d status. The N-E would be part of a \u201cde-Jure\u201d Sri Lanka but virtually a \u201cde-facto\u201d extension of India. A delicate tightrope walking act was required of Sri Lankan Tamil leaders. If they maintained correct relations with New Delhi and Colombo they could have elicited the best of both worlds for their people. If Sinhala hardliners ruled the roost in Colombo and adopted a confrontation course with India, a Turkish-Cyprus type of de-facto partition may have ensued.<\/p>\n

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PM Narendra Modi pays homage at IPKF Memorial in Sri Lanka – Mar 13, 2015<\/p><\/div>\n

But these things did not happen thanks to the colossal political stupidity and self-centred arrogance of the LTTE. Not only did it target the Sri Lankan armed forces but also took on the Indian soldiers. New Delhi had no choice other than to fight the Tigers. The IPKF-LTTE war altered the flow of events. War has a cruel logic and powerful momentum that changes things utterly. And then the Tigers assassinated Rajiv Gandhi in Tamil Nadu. The rest is history. Those who forget the lessons of history are condemned to remember them again bitterly. Let not the \u201cMarch of Folly\u201d in Tamil History Continue.<\/p>\n

DBS Jeyaraj can be reached at dbsjeyaraj@yahoo.com<\/span> <\/a><\/strong><\/em> <\/p>\n

This is an enhanced version of the \u201cDBS Jeyarj Column\u201dappearing in the \u201cDaily Mirror\u201dof December 18th 2021.t can be accessed here:<\/em><\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.dailymirror.lk\/plus\/Indo-Lanka-Accord-13th-Amendment-and-the-Tamil-March-of-Folly\/352-227196<\/a><\/p>\n

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By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Much concern is now being shown by political parties representing the minority (numerical) ethnicities of Sri Lanka over the 13th Amendment to the Constitution. As is well known it is the 13th Constitutional Amendment which ushered n a certain quantum of devolution to the country through the setting up of Provincial Councils. 13 …<\/p>\n

Continue reading ‘Indo-Lanka Accord, Thirteenth Amendment and the Tamil March of Folly’ »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[27,8],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/75407"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=75407"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/75407\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":75422,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/75407\/revisions\/75422"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=75407"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=75407"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=75407"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}