13th Amendment — final nail in coffin

by Ivor Samarasinghe

(August 13, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) The 13th Amendment to the Constitution will open the door to separation was the caption of a letter in a recent weekend English newspaper. It is indeed bewildering and disconcerting to know that Sri Lanka’s giant neighbour India is surreptitiously seeking to interfere in Lanka’s ethnic quandary.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh refused to meet the TMVP giving the impression that he was against any endeavour to discuss the desire of some Tamils to set up a separate entity of governance within Sri Lanka for Tamils. However he left our shores having told Sri Lanka to implement the 13th Amendment to the Constitution of 1978.

When Tamil Nadu a few decades back wanted to set up a Tamil State in their homeland the central government of India opposed it. A struggle ensued and many Tamils were killed in the uprising and many were jailed. The insurgency was successfully suppressed; now the LTTE is leading a revolt for a separate state of Eelam.

If granted it will inspire the Muslims to demand and even battle for a separate unit in the east. Little Sri Lanka will be Balkanised, exposing it to the danger of periodic skirmishes in this peaceful country. The merchants of war, including India, will profit and Sri Lankan lives will be laid to rest. A diabolical prospect for peace loving Lanka.

If the 13th Amendment is implemented it is the surest and shortest road to successful separation. The Patriotic National Movement has seen through the subterfuge, and objects to the implementation of the amendment. India is putting the screws on little Sri Lanka to permit the outrageous, unreasonable act and surmount the unrest in Tamil Nadu. India keeps its quandary under wraps!

If a Tamil State is set up in Lanka, India’s burden will dwindle and Manmohan will preen himself for subtle diplomacy. Lanka does not have to acquiesce and submit to India’s bullying. India should be magnanimous enough to shoulder its burden and not palm it off on Sri Lanka where Tamils form only 18% of the population.

If the amendment is implemented, Tamils who are now in India will flow into Lanka illegally to take advantage of the higher standard of life in Lanka, creating a problem to Lanka.

It appears that Sri Lanka has already been cowed judging from the tiff that Minister Rajitha Senaratne had with the PNM. Will the power line from India seal Lanka’s fate of being a subject territory of India? What Elara failed to do, Manmohan did! Bravo, India!
- Sri Lanka Guardian