A petition had been forwarded by the group of ruling coalition partners to the President Mahinda Rajapakse urging that the 13th amendment should not be abolished. However the petition has not been signed by Rishad Badihudeen headed All Ceylon Muslim Congress and Athawulla headed National Congress, the two Muslim party members.
The two parties changed their stance is due to the pressure from the many vital sections of the ruling coalition, according to information.
Defense Secretary Gottabaya Rajapakse made a statement that the 13th amendment which was introduced by the Indian government sponsorship for the national ethnic crisis should be abolished, which caused massive controversies.
Ministers Wimal Weerawansa, Champika Ranawake and chauvinist Sinhala movements raised war flags against the 13th amendment. This issue drew the attention not only in the internal level but also in the international level which was the most spoken vital subject.
A sector which is an associate of ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance supported the 13, and another sector is against it.
Recently the National Freedom Front and Jathika Hela Urumaya forwarded letters to President saying that the 13th amendment should be abolished from the constitution.
In recent times a discussion was held at Parliament complex by the Ministers and ruling coalition members supporting the 13th amendment. The group comprised with Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, EPDP, All Ceylon Muslim Congress, and National Congress party members including some.
On conclusion of the discussion it was decided that the 13th amendment should not be removed and more powers should be intensified to the provincial councils and a decision was taken to forward a petition. On this basis, the signatures were obtained.
However, the All Ceylon Muslim Congress and National Congress which initially signed the petition, but at the last moment they requested to delete their names from the petition. Therefore the petition had been sent to President without the support from the two parties.
UO