Sri Lanka Freedom Party led by President Maithripala Sirisena has rejected the country’s main Tamil party’s call for a federal solution, saying it is “unconstitutional” and will strengthen “extremism”.
“Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) is very clear in its policy to oppose a federal solution. Such a solution would be unconstitutional and would lead to disturbances by strengthening extremism”, said Mahinda Samarasinghe, Minister of Skills Development and Vocational Training.
He said the government would not go beyond the 13th amendment to the Constitution adopted in 1987 on India’s initiative.
“We will examine the 13A to see what powers remaining to be granted. We can consider that but not a federal solution,” Samarasinghe said.
Sri Lanka’s main Tamil party TNA-controlled northern provincial council adopted a resolution last week seeking a federal solution to the long-pending issue of political independence for the country’s minority Tamil community.
The resolution adopted by Tamil National Alliance (TNA) aims to have the federal solution included in the current process of formulating a new constitution for the country.
-PTI
-Agencies
