Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe has assured Tamil parties that the contentious 13th Amendment will be fully implemented, except for police powers, in the provincial councils. This comes ahead of Wickremesinghe's official visit to India, where the implementation of the 13th Amendment has been a key issue.

The 13th Amendment, which was enacted after the Indo-Lanka Accord of 1987, aims to devolve power from Colombo to the provinces, but has never been fully implemented. India has consistently urged for the full implementation of the amendment to address the Tamil demand for political autonomy.

In a meeting with Tamil political parties, Wickremesinghe outlined plans for devolution, stating that the 13th Amendment with full powers, except for police powers, will be implemented. However, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) categorically rejected this proposal, terming it another "hollow promise."

The TNA argues that if the government is not willing to implement what is already in the constitution, it reveals a lack of political will to devolve power. The meeting between Wickremesinghe and the Tamil parties assumes significance ahead of his visit to India, as India has consistently emphasized the full implementation of the 13th Amendment.

The amendment seeks to devolve power to all nine provinces, including those with Sinhala-majority populations. However, successive governments in Sri Lanka have refused to grant land and police powers to the provinces.

During the meeting, Wickremesinghe shared an elaborate dossier outlining his government's plans for truth-seeking mechanisms, reconciliation, accountability, development, and power devolution. Developmental plans included projects such as upgrading airports and establishing ferry connectivity between south India and northern Sri Lanka.

However, TNA MPs criticized the promises as familiar and hollow, highlighting that provincial councils have been defunct for five years with no sign of provincial elections. They argue that the promises made by Sri Lankan leaders, including to India and the international community, have led to a crisis of confidence.

They called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to push for a federal solution instead of relying on the 13th Amendment. The implementation of the 13th Amendment has been a longstanding issue in Sri Lanka, with Tamil parties demanding greater political autonomy.

The ongoing discussions and negotiations aim to address the Tamil people's concerns and work towards a solution that satisfies all parties involved.