Lanka's main Tamil party calls for federal setup, amid presidential push for 13A implementation

Tamil National Alliance (TNA), main Tamil political party in Sri Lanka, has renewed its demand for a federal system with self-determination rights, amidst President Ranil Wickremesinghe's efforts to implement 13th amendment to Constitution.

Last week, President Wickremesinghe me a special dress to Parliament, urging all political parties to collaborate in implementation of 13A while excluding police powers.

However, TNA leer R Sampanthan in a letter dressed to President on Monday reiterated party's commitment to a federal solution.

“We have repeatedly obtained a mandate from Tamil populace in north and east to work towards a political solution based on a federal structure consonant, with right of self-determination in area of our historical habitation,” letter stated.

Recalling India's pivotal role in 1987 on 13A, veteran Tamil leer reminded Wickremesinghe that, despite devolution of powers to provinces envisioned by amendment, constitution's unitary nature has at times led to central government reclaiming devolved powers.

"India offered its good offices in 1983, which were accepted by Sri Lankan government, culminating in signing of Indo-Lanka accord on July 29, 1987," he said in letter.

TNA urged Wickremesinghe to “expeditiously implement all powers granted to provinces in Constitution and hold long-delayed provincial council elections”.

13A was brought in after India-Sri Lanka agreement of 1987. It created nine provinces as devolved units with a temporary merger of Norrn and Eastern provinces.

elections for nine provinces have been on hold since 2018 following a move to introduce electoral reforms. It now needs a parliamentary amendment to enable elections to be held under existing proportional representation system.

President Wickremesinghe has been reiterating that he would bring in 13A amendment to make system of provincial councils more meaningful by reducing central government's powers to curb ir functioning.

He has said stalled provincial council elections could be held after Parliament’s agreement on ir powers.

Wickremesinghe's actions have drawn criticism from hardline Sinhala majority groups and influential Buddhist clergy members. Several prominent monks have issued statements expressing ir intent to challenge president, alleging that his approach could pave way for establishment of a separate Tamil state in norrn and eastern regions.

Critics accuse Wickremesinghe of relying on support of Tamil minority to secure victory in presidential election, scheduled for last quarter of 2024.

Sri Lanka has h a long history of failed negotiations to end Tamil claim of discrimination by allowing some form of political autonomy.

Tamils put forward ir demand for autonomy after gaining independence from Britain in 1948, which from mid-70s turned into a bloody armed conflict.

Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) ran a military campaign for a separate Tamil homeland in Norrn and Eastern provinces of island nation for nearly 30 years before its collapse in 2009 after Sri Lankan Army killed its supreme leer Velupillai Prabhakaran.

According to Sri Lankan government figures, over 20,000 people are missing due to various conflicts, including three-dece brutal war with Lankan Tamils in north and east, which claimed at least 100,000 lives.