In late October the government tabled an incomplete draft constitution in Parliament. Mr Wickremasinghe rejects the union of regions concept proposed by the draft constitution as an alternative to a “unitary state”, saying that the Indo-Sri Lanka agreement of 1987 and the 13th Amendment to the constitution have settled the unit of devolution issue.
Under the Indo-Sri Lanka agreement the northern and eastern provinces were merged temporarily with provision for a referendum in the east to decide the issue of permanent merger. The Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Reform failed to achieve consensus on permanent merger which the Tamil parties insist as non-negotiable.
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) had earlier indicated that it would consider only a peace proposal made jointly by the UNP and the PA. In April the two parties agreed on bipartisan cooperation brokered by Britain. Since then there has been more backbiting than handshakes. Mr Wickremasinghe accuses President Chandrika Kumaratunge for failing to create a climate of confidence raising doubts over her commitment to bipartisan approach to the conflict.
President Chandrika threatens to breach the present constitution by holding a direct referendum endorsing the PA devolution plans as part of a new constitution if UNP does not provide a two-thirds majority for the proposals in Parliament. Mr Wickremasinghe in turn says that the new constitution must come from consensus and warns that only measures with UNP support will stand the test of time.
Justice minister GL Peiris rejected Ranil’s proposal for asymmetry saying that all people in the island must equally share the economic benefits of devolution. Observers are concerned over government’s inflexibility and refusal to seek compromise, making it even difficult for the other Tamil parties to fully support the devolution package.
At a Norway conference in February last year, LTTE’s V Rudrakumaran suggested asymmetric devolution for the regions and greater power-sharing for Tamils in the central government. Observers believe that accommodation could be achieved in this area which the government should pursue.
Mr Wickremasinghe points out that there can be bipartisan cooperation only when the government decides to talk to the LTTE. The Tiger leader V Prabhakaran declared in his annual Maveerar Varam or Great Heroes Week message in late November, that the government’s devolution package and its military objective are similar, like the two faces of the same coin.
Mr Prabhakaran says that any solution to the Sri Lankan conflict should be based on three principles promoted by the Tamil parties at the Thimpu peace talks in 1985 - recognition of Tamil nationhood, Tamil homeland and the right of self-determination. Mr Prabhakaran stresses that a Tamil homeland in the north-east is fundamental to any solution since the territory is crucial to Tamil life and identity. The Tiger leader has pledged to continue fighting.
The LTTE struck in Colombo even before Heroes week began on 20 November. Tiger cadre infiltrated the high security Kelanitissa thermal power station, north-west of Colombo near Urugodawatta on 14 November, blasting fuel tanks with limpet mines. In the Vanni, the LTTE launched a massive assault on advancing Operation Jayasikurui (Certain victory) troops, at Kanagarayankulam on 4 December killing 146 commandos and wounding another 396. The government’s aim of opening a secure landroute to Jaffna before the 50th anniversary of independence on 4 February seems in jeopardy.
The Tigers also intensified attacks in Army-held Jaffna peninsula. Reports say LTTE intelligence chief Pottu Amman who has masterminded many successful attacks, is now in charge of Jaffna operations. As the government appointed military intelligence officer Maj. Gen. Lionel Balagalle in November as the Jaffna commander to counter the Pottu Amman threat, the Army carried out search operations and detained several people.
On 3 December, Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake announced elections for the 18 local government bodies in Jaffna peninsula, last held in 1979. Nominations for the elections will be accepted between 16 to 23 December. Observers believe Jaffna may become further destabilised as the LTTE targets election candidates who would be mainly from the other Tamil groups armed by the government and currently operating in Jaffna.