Description

On 8th of February, a protest by a group of nationalist monks against the full implementation
of the 13th Amendment of Sri Lankan constitution was obstructed by the Police at Polduwa
junction near Sri Lankan parliament. The 13th Amendment was passed in 1987, which
established Provincial Councils and recognized minority Tamil language as an official
language in Sri Lanka, in a bid to recognize rights of Tamil minorities including power sharing
at provincial council level. The Amendment remains partially implemented as the nationalist
forces in the South have continuously disagreed on power sharing at provincial level especially
in relation to establishment of Provincial Police stations, and land commissions. Last month,
the President promised full implementation of the 13th Amendment speaking at the All-Party
Leaders Conference on Reconciliation.9 Police arrested Balangoda Kassapa Thera and an
individual identified as Kamantha Thushara for staging a satyagraha blocking the Parliament
road.