Sri Lanka opposition not to go beyond 13A amendment to settle Tamil issue

COLOMBO: In a bid to woo the Sinhalese majority ahead of parliamentary polls, Sri Lanka's main opposition UPFA today said it will not back more autonomy for Tamils than promised by the India-backed thirteenth amendment that calls for devolution of powers to the provinces.

"We aim to arrive at a solution acceptable to all by strengthening the provincial and local governments by not venturing beyond the 13A," the manifesto released here by former strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa's United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) for the August 17 parliamentary election said.

Previously the UPFA under ex-president Rajapaksa, had pledged for a solution beyond powers of the 13A.

The 13A amendment of the Constitution which outlined provincial councils for the island's nine provinces, including the Tamil-majority north, came about as a result of the Indian government's intervention in 1987 during the height of the civil war with the LTTE.

Rajapaksa, who was defeated by Maithripala Sirisena in January's presidential election, has taken the unprecedented step for a former president to run for the national parliament.

He said he was contesting a seat in the upcoming polls to ensure Tamil-dominated areas do not slip back into conflict.

"Criminal activity has increased in the north... it is becoming a dangerous situation. If things were all right, there would be no need for me to come back and contest elections," he said at the manifesto launch.

The manifesto did not say why the party had decided to limit its quest for solution to the ethnic question to 13A, but observers said it was aimed at winning over hardline Sinhalese who oppose power-sharing with Tamils.

"We shall strengthen our relations with our neighbour India and other Asian nations by discarding the current West favoured foreign policy," the manifesto said in its foreign policy goals.

During the Rajapaksa years, relations with India and all Western nations soured.

Rajapaksa was bent on promoting China while relying on increased Chinese assistance for mega infrastructure development projects.

Accusing the current government of stalling Rajapaksa's development drive, the UPFA said all development programmes will be fast tracked.