India should help re-merger: TNA MP

(March 24, Chennai, Sri Lanka Guardian) The government of India should raise its voice favouring re-merger of northern and eastern provinces of Sri Lanka as per the Indo-Lanka accord, feels a three- member MP team from the Lankan nation.

The accord was signed by former Prime Minister of India Rajiv Gandhi and then President of Sri Lanka JR Jayawardane on 29 July 1987.

Briefing mediapersons on Sunday in Chennai, TNA MP M K Sivajilingam said that according to the accord, the northern and eastern provinces were recognised as a historical habitation of Tamils.

The accord has also made provisions for the establishment of a single and elected provincial council with a Chief Minister and Board of Ministers for the merged north-east province, subject to a referendum in the eastern half to decide on the continuance of its merger with the other half, northern province for the purpose of devolution.

He further said the provisions of the accord were incorporated into the Constitution of Sri Lanka by the 13th Constitutional Amendment in 1988.

No fresh elections were held with the dissolution of the north-eastern province in July 1990 following the self-imposed abdication and exile of its Chief Minister and other Ministers, said Sivajilingam.

Since July 1990, the north- eastern provincial council was administered by its Governor.

‘With the de-merger of the provinces, the government of Sri Lanka has now proceeded to hold fresh elections to a separate eastern provincial council and nominations filing will commence shortly’, he said.

This attitude of government of Lanka is gross and a blatant violation of the Indo-Lanka accord which was signed with a view to addressing the political grievances of Tamils in Sri Lanka. He accused the government of defeating and destroying the basic political aspiration of the Tamils to live with liberty and dignity.

Hence the government has to effect the re-merger by bringing in a Bill in its Parliament, he demanded.

When questioned on the government of India in its endeavour to solve the ethnic problem, Sivaji Lingam said, ‘India has to be ‘more committed’ in this regard.

The team had met and held discussions with major political parties in Tamilnadu in this regard and is planning to meet Tamilnadu Chief Minister Karunanidhi and AIADMK supremo Jayalalitha.

He also called upon all political parties in the State to come forward and raise their voice in this regard.

The other two members of the MP team N Sri Kantha and Selvam Adaikkalanathan are also present during the press meet.

-Agencies
- Sri Lanka Guardian