Tamil parties in Sri Lanka seek sustained Indian push to fulfil Indo-Lanka Accord, Pg18

Key Highlights:

• Tamil parties in Sri Lanka are seeking sustained Indian engagement to implement the Indo-Lanka Accord of 1987.
• The appeal was made to Indian Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan during his official visit to Sri Lanka.
• The Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) highlighted that the true spirit of the Accord is yet to be realized, even through the 13th Amendment.
• India has assured that its position on power devolution remains constant, despite concerns over waning interest in the Tamil question.

Detailed Insights:

• The Indo-Lanka Accord aimed to address Tamil aspirations for equal rights and greater political power in Sri Lanka.
• The 13th Amendment, a result of the Accord, guarantees a measure of power devolution to the provinces, including Tamil-majority areas, but has not been fully implemented.
• Tamil parties are requesting India to push for meaningful power devolution within a united Sri Lanka, potentially based on a federal model.
• The Vice-President discussed holding early provincial elections and the possible return of Sri Lankan refugees in India, with potential Indian support for resettlement.
• Some Tamil parties believe that meaningful power devolution is not possible within Sri Lanka’s unitary state structure.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Indo-Lanka Accord: A 1987 agreement between India and Sri Lanka aimed at resolving the ethnic conflict by devolving powers to the provinces.
• 13th Amendment: Constitutional amendment in Sri Lanka that established Provincial Councils and devolved some powers, particularly regarding land and police.
• Power Devolution: The transfer of powers and responsibilities from a central government to regional or local authorities.