By Jay Deshabandu

Every peace loving citizen who loves this country should be united to voice and express strong opposition to the implementation of the thirteenth amendment.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The thirteenth amendment was forced to us by the Indian government during the regime of JRJ who first introduced the violent political gang culture to Sri Lanka.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The thirteenth amendment stipulates that the unit of power is at the provincial level and it gives enough room for two or three provincial councils to merge making the foundation for separatism along ethnic lines.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ One can see this very clear in the thirteenth amendment:

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ This article clearly provides the much needed stepping stone for the separatism of the North and North East from the rest of the country.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ It takes a great effort to read any amendment to the constitution because it refers to circular references to previous articles, chapters etc.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Can any average person with some education understand our constitution? For example, look at this nonsense:

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ShouldnƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t the constitution be rewritten as a new version instead of inserting, deleting or substitution of texts or and paragraphs.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  We have many amendments to the constitution; and, therefore one would have to refer to many previous versions and amendments of texts or paragraph of the constitution to find the origin of the articles or chapters.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  We simply do not have one constitution that has all updated articles or chapters together as a single unit.

There is certainly no problem with having Tamil as an official language. But what is the purpose of the word link language? Does it mean an official letter written in Sinhalese should be translated to English and then to Tamil?ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Should we only write official letters in Sinhalese or Tamil? What I am saying here is the word ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Link LanguageƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ is not clearly defined here.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The thirteenth amendment is again trying to substitute words in a circular reference:

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The thirteenth amendment provides room for criminals and corrupted politicians to stay in power: The thirteenth amendment indicates:

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The basic purpose of the thirteenth amendment is to create provincials that can act as small unit of powers centered within the provinces that can gradually grow to function as separate governments. For example, the north and east can merge under the law and have all basic elements and political structure to form as a single government that can agitate the central government for separation. Each provincial can create its own high courts, financial and economical hubs restricting freedom of flow of marketing activities. North and North east can function as one government which can easily asks for separation through International support. Poor provinces with limited resources would be threatened as the economic competition would create tensions between provinces and between peoples.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ We have seen enough violence already between the same provincial council members; and having leaders who are rapists or/ and thugs or drug dealers. Now many are talking about abolishing the proportional system of election procedures to something different that could lead to less violence. Should we wait to see violence and separatism to abolish the thirteenth amendment? Why shouldn’t we cut down a falling tree before it lands on our head?

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ It is easy to see that the implementation of the thirteenth amendment could naturally lead to

• ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚·ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The creation of a different Tamil Elam Region connected to Tamil Nadu platform
• ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚·ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Unhealthy economic competitions between provinces
• ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚·ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Violence between the peoples belonging to different provinces
• ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚·ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Restricted movements or settlements in Sri Lanka
• ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚·ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Provincial level corruptions and waste of money in running these power units

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Thirteenth amendment is a threat to our national unity. It is certainly a threat to the unitary nature of Sri Lanka.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  We should not forget that Sri Lanka is a small island which when divided into small provinces, could lead to economic stagnation and a definite threat to our national security.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Why should there be power devolution in the first place and for what purpose?

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

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