13th amendment is an outcome of a threat to invade Sri Lanka...

Following the total elimination of the LTTE terrorists there is much discussion going on in electronic-print media and public forums on 'the political solution to the so called "North & East problem". 13th amendment to the constitution is being projected as one of the solutions.

Even the government ministers are parroting about 13th amendment without having an iota of idea about the grave consequences that will befall if this foreign imposed system of governance is introduced. 

It is an undeniable truth that the 13th amendment is an outcome of a threat to invade Sri Lanka by the then Indian leaders. And also it was a design of the politicians of India with imperialist mindset.

Therefore, the 13th amendment to the constitution is rather impediment to have a sustainable peace in the country. Forming of system governance dictated by another country will be one of the most heinous betrayals for the members of the security forces who have made supreme scarifies to preserve the territorial integrity of the country. Therefore, we should under no circumstances undermine the sacrifices made by them by leaving no chance for dividing the country.

In this well informative article by Mr.Nanda Godage, a distinguished and erudite scholar and a former ambassador of Sri Lanka has graphically illustrated the bad effects of this ill conceived forcefully imposed 'solution". He also suggests in his article a from of home grown governance system that should be suitable for our country. Please find below some excerpts from his article for your easy reference.          

 "The situation afforded the Indian government with the opportunity to circumscribe our sovereignty; India did this through Indo-Lanka Agreement and the Letters exchanged between Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and President JR Jayewardene. In terms of the Indo-Lanka Agreement:

1) We were required to base a solution on the negotiations between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Government of India between 01-05-1986 and 19-12-1986.

2) We were required to accept that the northern and eastern provinces of Sri Lanka were areas of historical habitation of the Sri Lanka Tamil speaking people (which included the Muslims) though the Eastern Province was never an "area of historical habitation of Sri Lanka Tamil speaking people. The present Eastern Province was a part of the Kandyan Kingdom (there are over 150 Buddhist Archaeological sites in the present EP). Tamils too came over from India and settled in parts of the north and east over centuries. There was also an overflow from the peninsular after the Tobacco cultivations failed there and excess labour brought by the British to work in the plantations also settled in the east.

3) The Muslims were given refuge in the present EP, from Portuguese persecution by King Senarath in 1648. There were subsequent migrations from the Coramandal coast into the present Eastern Province.

4) We were required to permit the Northern and Eastern Provinces to join to form a single administrative unit. This was because India wished to make a minority of the Muslims (in the combined North-East Province) who today number almost 40% in he EP but would be reduced to 20% in a combined Province. (The fear was that Muslim militancy was gaining ground in the EP, with the help of the Pakistani ISI and that the Muslims of our EP would linkup with their counter-parts in Tamil Nadu to subvert that country.

5) The President was required to grant an amnesty to LTTE cadres held under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.

6) The GOSL was required to accept and abide by the above provisions and expect all others to do likewise,

The GOSL was also required to implement the relevant proposals forthwith.

In terms of the Letters exchanged certain conditions were imposed on this country, they were as follows:

(a) We undertook not to employ foreign military and intelligence personnel;

(b) Trincomalee and other ports cannot be made available for military use by any country;

(c)The Trincomalee oil tank farm will be restored and operated as a joint venture only with India;

(d) Sri Lanka had to agree to review agreements with foreign broadcasting organizations (we had agreements with VOA and Radio Deutchewelle)."

This article by S. Akurugoda too throws light to the bag effects of this foreign imposed 'solution'.