Two main coalition partners of the government, the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) and the National Freedom Front (NFF), strongly oppose the full implementation of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, as is being insisted by India.
JHU Leader, Ven. Omalpe Sobhitha Thera, said the Sri Lankan Government has already put itself in a difficult position as a result of acting on the instructions of India, and warn if the government continues to take instructions from India, it will push the government towards a worse position.
Meanwhile, NFF Leader, Minister Wimal Weerawansa said, the public elected the present government to safeguard the unitary status of the country and claimed the full implementation of the 13th Amendment can pose a clear threat to the unitary status of the country.JHU Leader, Ven. Omalpe Sobhitha Thera, said the Sri Lankan Government has already put itself in a difficult position as a result of acting on the instructions of India, and warn if the government continues to take instructions from India, it will push the government towards a worse position.
However, Indian media reported that during bilateral discussions with newly-elected Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, President Mahinda Rajapaksa has promised to fully implement the 13th Amendment.
Commenting on this, Minister Weerawansa said they are yet to receive confirmation on President Rajapaksa agreeing to fully implement the 13th Amendment.
"If the President has given an assurance to fully implement the 13th Amendment, it is a grave mistake. The people will never approve the full implementation of the 13th Amendment. Even if such an assurance has been given, we will not allow for the full implementation of the Amendment," he stressed.
Meanwhile, Sobhitha Thera said, the full implementation of the Amendment will allow the setting up of a separate Eelam State.
"First of all, we need to know whether the President has given such an assurance. The Chief Minister of the Northern Province has proved that he acts according to the agenda of the Tamil Diaspora," the Thera alleged.
He also charged the Tamil Diaspora is attempting to establish an Ealam State through the implementation of the 13th Amendment, a goal that the LTTE failed to achieve. He also said, the 13th Amendment supports the concept of an Eelam State.
''If the North is the homeland of the Tamils, where is the homeland of the Sinhalese? This is the homeland of the Sri Lankans. Through the implementation of the 13th Amendment, the Sri Lankan State is separated. Therefore, we are against it," the Thera added.
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