A workable programme rather than the 13th Amendment, a way forward

Both the Sinhala and Tamil political parties are engaged in debate over the practical implementation of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution from time to time resulting in communal tension among the Sinhala and Tamil communities, enabling them to preserve their vote bank in the north and south in the event of elections.

However, the attention of major political parties should be devoted to the implementation of a planned programme of work targeting the economy, social problems faced by the people in the northern and eastern regions in addition to the particular problems faced by them as regards ownership of lands and forced disappearance of their relatives in the 30-year war.

Further it should be noted that the agitation for a political solution among the minority political parties began as a result of implementing the Sinhala Only policy in the administration of the country. Hence it is the responsibility of the government to work towards implementing the use of Tamil in the general administration through the police stations, courts and divisional secretaries in the Northern and Eastern provinces.

Also the major political parties with the support of minority parties should organise the Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim youth members in each electorate through seminars and other activities to enhance their knowledge of the respective languages, religion and culture. This will enable them to understand each other and pave the way for trust and respect among all communities in the long term.

Pannipitiya