PM conveys dismay over Sri Lanka move on 13th Amendment

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has expressed dismay over the reports suggesting dilution of certain key provisions of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution by the Sri Lankan government ahead of elections to the Northern Provincial Council.

External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said, the Prime Minister is deeply concerned about the welfare and well-being of the Tamil community in Sri Lanka.

During a meeting with Tamil National Alliance delegation in New Delhi, Dr. Singh reiterated that India will make every effort to ensure the future for the community marked by equality, justice and self-respect.

The six-member TNA delegation led by R. Sampanthan, which arrived in India on Sunday, had earlier called on the External Affairs Minister and the National Security Adviser.

Dr. Singh had earlier said India would convey its views on alleged attempts by political parties in Sri Lanka to repeal the 13th Amendment to its Constitution, after considering its implications.

Dr. Singh in his letter to DMK supremo M. Karunanidhi said, "While this is a matter on which a decision will be taken by various political parties within Sri Lanka, we will certainly consider its implications and make known to the Sri Lankan authorities our views in the matter."

"We will continue to work for attainment of this goal through a process of national reconciliation in Sri Lanka," he added, while observing that the Central Government had consistently worked for all communities in Sri Lanka to find their rightful place in the country.

Karunanidhi had written to the Prime Minister, and expressed apprehensions over 'attempts' to abrogate the Rajiv-Jayawardene Accord and repeal the 13th Amendment to the Lankan constitution and sought India's intervention to protect the rights of ethnic Tamils in the island nation.

As per the 13th Amendment that followed the Indo-Sri Lankan Accord of July 1987, the Sri Lankan Government had agreed to devolve some authority to the provinces.