Friday, February 10, 2012

Sri Lanka Perspectives: January 2012

Col  R Hariharan

Highlights

President Mahinda Rajapaksa faced the uncomfortable consequences of his reported promise to the visiting India’s External Affairs Minister (EAM) SM Krishna to enforce the 13th Amendment Plus on empowering provincial councils. In his subsequent interactions Rajapaksa denied it and said he would take action only after the issue is discussed by all political parties.  As the opposition Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) said it was clear the President was trying to buy time rather than decisive action on this issue. If he really awaited opposition parties’ participation in the parliamentary select committee (PSC) constituted for this purpose the issue may never be resolved in the near future.