&nbsp;Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Sunday threw his support for the full implementation of the 13th Amendment to its Constitution, which provides for the devolution of power to the minority Tamil community.

Addressing the national Pongal festival– a ceremony unique to the country’s Tamil minority in Jaffna— Wickremesinghe said that his government has been working to implement the amendment legislation, as soon as possible.

He informed that a Social Justice Commission would be established to address the grievances of all communities to create a Sri Lankan identity without discrimination.

India has been urging Sri Lanka to implement the 13th Amendment which was brought in after the Indo-Sri Lankan agreement of 1987.

The Sri Lankan leader’s remarks assume significance as India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is scheduled to visit Colombo on January 19.

It is expected that the Indian minister will raise the issue of the Tamil community during his high-level talks.

It comes amidst protests held by the Tamil community who&nbsp;have issued an ultimatum of January 17 for the government to come up with solutions.

Wickremesinghe said he would be making a statement on steps to be taken to achieve national reconciliation on February 4, which is Sri Lanka’s 75th anniversary of independence celebrations, reports PTI news agency.

According to reports, a political party leaders’ meeting would be convened next week to discuss the views of all parties on reconciliation.

For long, the negotiations between the government and the Tamil community over their demand for some form of political autonomy has failed to reach its end.&nbsp; Their demand stems from the alleged discrimination against the community.

In 1987, India tried to influence the ruling government to create a system of a joint provincial council for the Tamil-dominated north and east that faltered as the Tamils claimed it fell short of full autonomy.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Sunday threw his support for the full implementation of the 13th Amendment to its Constitution, which provides for the devolution of power to the minority Tamil community.

Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Sunday threw his support for the full implementation of the 13th Amendment to its Constitution, which provides for the devolution of power to the minority Tamil community. Addressing the national Pongal festival– a ceremony unique to the country’s Tamil minority in Jaffna— Wickremesinghe said that his government has been working to implement the amendment legislation, as soon as possible. He informed that a Social Justice Commission would be established to address the grievances of all communities to create a Sri Lankan identity without discrimination. India has been urging Sri Lanka to implement the 13th Amendment which was brought in after the Indo-Sri Lankan agreement of 1987. The Sri Lankan leader’s remarks assume significance as India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is scheduled to visit Colombo on January 19. It is expected that the Indian minister will raise the issue of the Tamil community during his high-level talks. It comes amidst protests held by the Tamil community who have issued an ultimatum of January 17 for the government to come up with solutions. Wickremesinghe said he would be making a statement on steps to be taken to achieve national reconciliation on February 4, which is Sri Lanka’s 75th anniversary of independence celebrations, reports PTI news agency. According to reports, a political party leaders’ meeting would be convened next week to discuss the views of all parties on reconciliation. For long, the negotiations between the government and the Tamil community over their demand for some form of political autonomy has failed to reach its end. Their demand stems from the alleged discrimination against the community. In 1987, India tried to influence the ruling government to create a system of a joint provincial council for the Tamil-dominated north and east that faltered as the Tamils claimed it fell short of full autonomy. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Sri Lankan President Wickremesinghe assures to implement 13th Amendment soon

Sri Lanka’s energy minister Udaya Gammanpila slammed the Tamil lawmakers from the country for seeking Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s intervention over the long-standing 13th Amendment issue.

Speaking exclusively to WION, he said that “if they have an issue, they must bring it up with the Sri Lankan government and not India.”

The minister's&nbsp;comments come days after 13 Tamil MPs from Sri Lanka wrote a letter to Modi seeking India’s help in ensuring that Colombo addresses the island’s long-pending Tamil issue with a lasting political solution.

The 13th Amendment was the result of the Indo-Lanka Accord of 1987, inked by the then Sri Lankan president JR Jayawardena and former Indian prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/india-wanted-to-develop-trincomalee-oil-tank-farm-for-security-reasons-not-commercial-sl-minister-448455">India wanted to develop Trincomalee oil tank farm for security reasons, not commercial: SL minister</a>

It provides for the devolution of power to the minority Tamil community in Sri Lanka.&nbsp;

The letter also cites the Indian political leadership's interventions at various moments, such as Prime Minister Modi's 2015 address to the Sri Lankan Parliament, in which he expressed his staunch confidence in "cooperative federalism."&nbsp;

He said that since the MPs are from Sri Lanka, they should have called on the country’s president to redress their grievances.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/tamil-mps-of-sri-lanka-write-to-indian-pm-modi-on-implementing-13th-amendment-445942">Tamil MPs of Sri Lanka write to Indian PM Modi on implementing 13th amendment</a>

“Instead of writing their issues to the government, the 13 members wrote to the Indian PM. I am against this. Sri Lanka is a separate entity and not a part of India,” Gammanpila said.

Over the years, India had reaffirmed its commitment to protect the rights of the Tamils through the implementation of the 13th Amendment.

However, the ruling Sri Lanka People’s Party’s Sinhala majority hardliners have been advocating for total abolition of the island’s Provincial Council system.

Sri Lanka’s energy minister Udaya Gammanpila slammed the Tamil lawmakers from the country for seeking Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s intervention over the long-standing 13th Amendment issue.

Sri Lanka’s energy minister Udaya Gammanpila slammed the Tamil lawmakers from the country for seeking Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s intervention over the long-standing 13th Amendment issue. Speaking exclusively to WION, he said that “if they have an issue, they must bring it up with the Sri Lankan government and not India.” The minister's comments come days after 13 Tamil MPs from Sri Lanka wrote a letter to Modi seeking India’s help in ensuring that Colombo addresses the island’s long-pending Tamil issue with a lasting political solution. The 13th Amendment was the result of the Indo-Lanka Accord of 1987, inked by the then Sri Lankan president JR Jayawardena and former Indian prime minister Rajiv Gandhi. Also read | India wanted to develop Trincomalee oil tank farm for security reasons, not commercial: SL minister It provides for the devolution of power to the minority Tamil community in Sri Lanka. The letter also cites the Indian political leadership's interventions at various moments, such as Prime Minister Modi's 2015 address to the Sri Lankan Parliament, in which he expressed his staunch confidence in "cooperative federalism." He said that since the MPs are from Sri Lanka, they should have called on the country’s president to redress their grievances. Also read | Tamil MPs of Sri Lanka write to Indian PM Modi on implementing 13th amendment “Instead of writing their issues to the government, the 13 members wrote to the Indian PM. I am against this. Sri Lanka is a separate entity and not a part of India,” Gammanpila said. Over the years, India had reaffirmed its commitment to protect the rights of the Tamils through the implementation of the 13th Amendment. However, the ruling Sri Lanka People’s Party’s Sinhala majority hardliners have been advocating for total abolition of the island’s Provincial Council system.

Lankan minister slams Tamil MPs for seeking Indian PM’s intervention on 13th Amendment issue

Prominent Tamil MPs from Sri Lanka's north and east have written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting India's assistance in ensuring that Colombo finds a long-term political solution to the island's long-standing Tamil dilemma.

On Tuesday, a team of MPs led by R. Sampanthan, a senior Tamil politician and leader of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), met with the Indian High Commissioner in Colombo and handed over the letter.

The seven-page letter highlights the numerous unfulfilled pledges made by the Colombo government to implement the 13th Amendment and go beyond it to secure substantial power devolution.&nbsp;

The letter, which was signed by TNA constituent party leaders Mavai Senathiraja (ITAK), Dharmalingam Sithadthan (PLOTE), and Selvam Adaikalanathan (TELO), as well as former Northern Province Chief Minister CV Wigneswaran and former MP Suresh Premachandran (EPRLF), traces past attempts to bring about a constitutional settlement, beginning with the Indo-Lanka Accord of 1987. 
 
Watch | Gravitas: Sri Lanka drops Tamil version of national anthem

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It also cites the Indian political leadership's interventions at various moments, such as Prime Minister Modi's 2015 address to the Sri Lankan Parliament, in which he expressed his staunch confidence in "cooperative federalism."&nbsp;

<blockquote>
The 13th Amendment was the result of the Indo-Lanka Accord of 1987, inked by the then Sri Lankan President JR Jayawardena and Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

It calls for the Tamil community in Sri Lanka to be given more influence.

Through the full implementation of the 13th Amendment, the early convening of Provincial Council elections, and reconciliation, India has repeatedly reaffirmed its commitment to preserve the rights of Sri Lanka's minority Tamil community.
</blockquote>

Hardliners in the ruling Sri Lanka People's Party's Sinhala majority have advocated for the island's Provincial Council system to be abolished completely.&nbsp;

Prime Minister Modi has been urged to "ensure Tamil speaking people live with dignity, self-respect, peace and security in the areas of their natural habitation, exercising the right to self-determination within the framework of a united undivided country".

"The government of India has actively engaged in this pursuit for the past 40 years, and we are grateful for the firm commitment expressed by India to find a just and lasting solution,", the letter adds.

The move assumes considerable significance as it comes barely a week after New Delhi announced a USD 900 million loan to Colombo to build up its depleted foreign reserves and for food imports amid a shortage of almost all essential commodities in Sri Lanka.

India on Tuesday announced a $500 million credit line to help Sri Lanka purchase petroleum products as the island nation struggles with a massive fuel and energy crisis.

(With inputs from agencies)

Prominent Tamil MPs from Sri Lanka's north and east have written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting India's assistance in ensuring that Colombo finds a long-term political solution to the island's long-standing Tamil dilemma.

Prominent Tamil MPs from Sri Lanka's north and east have written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting India's assistance in ensuring that Colombo finds a long-term political solution to the island's long-standing Tamil dilemma. On Tuesday, a team of MPs led by R. Sampanthan, a senior Tamil politician and leader of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), met with the Indian High Commissioner in Colombo and handed over the letter. The seven-page letter highlights the numerous unfulfilled pledges made by the Colombo government to implement the 13th Amendment and go beyond it to secure substantial power devolution. The letter, which was signed by TNA constituent party leaders Mavai Senathiraja (ITAK), Dharmalingam Sithadthan (PLOTE), and Selvam Adaikalanathan (TELO), as well as former Northern Province Chief Minister CV Wigneswaran and former MP Suresh Premachandran (EPRLF), traces past attempts to bring about a constitutional settlement, beginning with the Indo-Lanka Accord of 1987. Watch | Gravitas: Sri Lanka drops Tamil version of national anthem It also cites the Indian political leadership's interventions at various moments, such as Prime Minister Modi's 2015 address to the Sri Lankan Parliament, in which he expressed his staunch confidence in "cooperative federalism." The 13th Amendment was the result of the Indo-Lanka Accord of 1987, inked by the then Sri Lankan President JR Jayawardena and Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. It calls for the Tamil community in Sri Lanka to be given more influence. Through the full implementation of the 13th Amendment, the early convening of Provincial Council elections, and reconciliation, India has repeatedly reaffirmed its commitment to preserve the rights of Sri Lanka's minority Tamil community. Hardliners in the ruling Sri Lanka People's Party's Sinhala majority have advocated for the island's Provincial Council system to be abolished completely. Prime Minister Modi has been urged to "ensure Tamil speaking people live with dignity, self-respect, peace and security in the areas of their natural habitation, exercising the right to self-determination within the framework of a united undivided country". "The government of India has actively engaged in this pursuit for the past 40 years, and we are grateful for the firm commitment expressed by India to find a just and lasting solution,", the letter adds. The move assumes considerable significance as it comes barely a week after New Delhi announced a USD 900 million loan to Colombo to build up its depleted foreign reserves and for food imports amid a shortage of almost all essential commodities in Sri Lanka. India on Tuesday announced a $500 million credit line to help Sri Lanka purchase petroleum products as the island nation struggles with a massive fuel and energy crisis. (With inputs from agencies)

Tamil MPs of Sri Lanka write to Indian PM Modi on implementing 13th amendment

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