TN parties hail Lanka's stand on 13th Amendment

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and several other parties in Tamil Nadu  yesterday welcomed the announcement made by newly-elected Sri Lankan Government that it would implement India-backed 13th Amendment to the Constitution on devolution of power to achieve reconciliation with the minority Tamil community in the island nation. Expressing joy over Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's statement on the issue yesterday in Lankan Parliament, DMK President M Karunanidhi said it had given a "huge confidence to the world of Tamils". "The new regime should expeditiously implement these assurances, they should come forward to do whatever is needed for Tamils there and resolve issues through dialogue," he said in a statement here. CPM State Secretary Ramakrishnan welcomed the announcement and said the new regime should implement it and resolutely overcome difficulties if any. Also, events like appointment of a new governor for Northern Province were good tidings for Tamils besides the 13th amendment, he said. CPI State Secretary D Pandian said, "We welcome it with expectations." Stating that such an announcement had been made for the first time, he said it opened a new door of hope for minority Tamils there. "It is a good beginning. We need to wait and see what kind of power will be devolved." Tamil Nadu Congress Committee President E V K S Elangovan thanked Wickremesinghe and hoped that the Lankan leader will take steps to implement it. "I have confidence and hope that Tamils will be able to live a peaceful life." Wickremesinghe had said the 13th amendment, an outcome of the Indo-Sri Lankan Accord of July 1987 inked by then Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and then Sri Lankan President J R Jayewardene, would be implemented "within Lanka's unitary framework." That was his first address to Parliament after Maithripala Sirisena assumed office as President after trouncing Mahinda Rajapaksa in the January 8 elections. The pact, besides other things, envisages devolution of powers to the provinces and successive Indian governments at have been persuading Sri Lanka to implement it. (PTI)