Sri Lanka has reiterated its commitment to the 13th Amendment which provides for devolution of powers to the Tamil-dominated northern and eastern provinces in the island nation. India, which has been trying to firmly nudge Sri Lanka into devolving powers while acknowledging the difficult task before Colombo, has said “a lot more needs to be done” while hoping for “early progress”.
Visiting Sri Lankan foreign minister G.L. Peiris expressed his government’s resolve to implement the 13th Amendment maintaining that the repeal sought by some members of the Mahinda Rajapaksa-led government merely reflected a “variety of opinions.”
Mr Peiris, who was here to lead the Sri Lankan side during the Eighth India-Sri Lanka Joint Commission Meeting here on Tuesday, said the Lankan government believes the 13th Amendment is an “integral part” of his country’s Constitution.
Later, the two sides also inked two pacts — an agreement on combating international terrorism and illicit drug-trafficking and a revised double taxation avoidance agreement. Noting that his country’s government is a coalition, Mr Peiris said there were different schools of thought on the 13th Amendment and that this was to be expected in a coalition.
Asked if India is satisfied with the progress made thus far by the island nation on devolution, India’s external affairs minister Salman Khurshid said it was facing a “challenging task” of reconstruction having gone through an “extremely painful experience”.
Stating that there was no reason for India to feel dissatisfied, the minister conceded that a lot still needs to be done.
He added: “As friends, we can provide our understanding and we’re willing to help any which way we can.” Mr Khurshid said India would like to see “reconstruction continue unabated” and “the completion of a very, very difficult task”.
Pressing ahead with its emphasis on the reconciliation process, Mr Khurshid in his remarks also said that he referred to the need for continued dialogue between the Sri Lankan government and the representatives of the Tamil community on the island. He remarked: “We hope that there will be early progress on meaningful devolution building upon the 13th Amendment and leading to national reconciliation.”