COLOMBO: Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s plan to fully implement India-backed 13th Amendment to grant political autonomy to the minority Tamils received a blow on Thursday as the powerful Buddhist clergy expressed strong opposition to the move, claiming it challenges the unitary nature of the country.

The four chief prelates of the main Buddhist sects handed over a letter to Wickremesinghe in the central town of Kandy. The letter charges that Wickremesinghe’s plan had created dissent in the country as the move challenges Sri Lanka’s sovereignty.

It reminds Wickremesinghe that his predecessor presidents didn’t go ahead with the 13th Amendment’s full implementation due to the danger posed to the unity of the country. He shouldn’t try it and earn public wrath, the letter warns.

“We are not in agreement with proposals that would endanger the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the country,” the Buddhist clergy said in their letter.

President Wickremesinghe has underlined the need to fully implement the 13th Amendment to the Constitution to grant political autonomy to the minority Tamils in the country. Last week, he offered the full implementation of the 13th Amendment as a solution to the long-standing demand by the Tamil community.

The 13A provides for the devolution of power to the Tamil community in Sri Lanka. India has been pressing Sri Lanka to implement the 13A which was brought in after the Indo-Sri Lankan agreement of 1987. He was to announce the full implementation of 13A in his address to parliament on February 8.

Minister Muraleedharan to begin two-day visit to Sri Lanka

Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan will pay a two-day visit to Sri Lanka beginning Friday, in reflection of deeper bilateral engagement at a time the island nation is reeling under an economic crisis.

He is scheduled to meet Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Foreign Minister Ali Sabry.