Tamil National Council wants India to back federal solution

The Tamil National Council (TNC), represented by MP Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam, has called upon India to support a federal solution for Tamils in Sri Lanka. The TNC made this appeal during a meeting with India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, during which they highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by Tamil communities and emphasized the need for a constitutional reform that recognizes the Tamil nation's right to self-determination.

The TNC argues that the current Sri Lankan government's draft Constitution, which is being drafted to replace the 1987 Indo-Lanka Accord, fails to deliver meaningful autonomy due to its unitary structure. They cite the 1987 Accord and the subsequent 13th Amendment as examples of failed attempts to provide genuine devolution, as these were implemented within a unitary framework.

The TNC believes that a federal constitutional order, which acknowledges the Tamil nation's sovereignty and right to self-determination, is the only viable path to a lasting settlement. They urge India to apply diplomatic pressure on Sri Lanka to avoid adopting the proposed unitary constitution and instead advocate for a federal structure that would support Tamil autonomy and self-governance, particularly in the North-East region.

The TNC believes that India's support is crucial for Sri Lanka's economic recovery and that closer ties with Tamil Nadu could influence the constitutional process in a favorable direction for the Tamil people.

Brief written by urgent.news from The Island Sri Lanka's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.