"Autonomy For All Provinces": Lanka Minister To NDTV On Big Move For Lasting Peace In Island Nation

Jeevan Thondaman, the Water Resources Minister of Sri Lanka, told NDTV that implementing the 13th Amendment in the island nation will prevent ethnic conflict. "The 13th Amendment will enable autonomy in all the provinces of Sri Lanka. The President has given his proposal…He will soon have a party leaders' meeting, where he will submit the proposal," Mr Thondaman said. The Tamil community in Sri Lanka has been demanding the implementation of the 13th Amendment that provides for devolution of power to it. The 13th Amendment was brought in after the Indo-Sri Lankan agreement of 1987. In his meeting with visiting Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Prime Minister Narendra Modi explained India's expectations from Colombo to fulfil the aspirations of the Tamil community in the island nation and to ensure a life of respect and dignity for them.