Answer

The Indo-Lanka Accord (1987) aimed to address the Tamil issue in Sri Lanka by introducing the 13th Amendment, granting Provincial Councils limited autonomy. India has consistently advocated for its full implementation to ensure political representation for Sri Lankan Tamils. This stance influences India-Sri Lanka relations, shaping diplomatic, economic, and strategic engagements between the two nations.

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India’s Consistent Support for the 13th Amendment

• Diplomatic Pressure: India has continuously advocated for the full and early implementation of the 13A to ensure Tamil autonomy. Indian leaders frequently raise this issue in bilateral meetings.
  For example: In 2024, India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar urged Sri Lanka’s leadership for “early, full or effective implementation” of 13A.
• Historical Role: India played a pivotal role in negotiating the Indo-Lanka Accord (1987), leading to the insertion of the 13A in Sri Lanka’s Constitution, granting limited autonomy to provinces.
  For example: The Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) was deployed in Sri Lanka in 1987 to ensure Tamil rights but faced resistance from both the LTTE and Sinhalese nationalists.
• Repeated Assurances: India has reassured the Sri Lankan Tamil community and their leaders about its commitment to Tamil political and administrative rights.
  For example: The Indian PM during Sri Lankan President Dissanayake’s visit in 2024, emphasized the need for conducting Provincial Council elections.
• Aid and Development Support: India has backed Tamil regions by investing in infrastructure, housing, and cultural projects, indirectly strengthening provincial governance.
  For example: India funded the Jaffna Thiruvalluvar Cultural Centre, reflecting its support for Tamil heritage and regional development.

India’s Approach to the Tamil Issue in Sri Lanka

• Advocacy for Devolution and Autonomy: India has encouraged Sri Lanka to strengthen provincial governance under 13A rather than allowing centralization that could fuel ethnic tensions.
  For example: The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and India have pushed for an active role for Provincial Councils in governance.
• Economic and Cultural Engagement: India has used soft diplomacy, economic ties, and cultural projects to integrate Tamil-majority areas within Sri Lanka.
  For example: India has provided housing for displaced Tamils, railway connectivity, and economic investments in Northern Sri Lanka and India’s $4 billion economic assistance in 2022 during Sri Lanka’s economic crisis.
• Balancing Sinhalese Sensitivities: While advocating Tamil rights, India has avoided direct intervention in Sri Lanka’s domestic political and security matters.
• Non-Support for Tamil Eelam: India rejects secessionist demands and promotes autonomy within Sri Lanka, avoiding friction with Colombo.
  For example: India banned the LTTE in 1992 and maintains that Tamil aspirations should be pursued within Sri Lanka’s constitutional framework.
• Encouraging Political Settlements: India has supported multi-stakeholder dialogue between the Sri Lankan government and Tamil leaders.
  For example: In 2017, India suggested moving beyond the Tamil homeland merger issue to focus on provincial empowerment.

Impact on India-Sri Lanka Bilateral Relations

• Diplomatic Strains: Sri Lankan governments, especially nationalist regimes, have resisted India’s advocacy for full 13A implementation, causing periodic tensions.
• Security and Stability in the Indian Ocean Region: The Tamil issue is intertwined with security concerns, including fisheries disputes and maritime security cooperation. Stability in Sri Lanka ensures peace in India’s southern region, making devolution a key concern for India’s regional security policy
• India’s Evolving Stance (Pragmatism Over Rhetoric): While India continues to raise the Tamil issue diplomatically, it has increasingly focused on economic and strategic cooperation with Sri Lanka.
  For example: The energy, trade, and connectivity agreements like 3 (three) Islands Hybrid Renewable Energy Project signed in recent years indicate a broader engagement strategy beyond Tamil concerns.
• Influence in the Indian Ocean: India’s support for Tamil rights is balanced against its strategic need to counter China’s growing presence in Sri Lanka.
  For example: India has invested in Colombo Port Terminal to limit China’s influence in the region.
• Security Cooperation and Regional Stability: India’s engagement with the Tamil issue has prevented extremism from destabilizing Sri Lanka and spilling over into Tamil Nadu.
  For example: The Tamil Nadu factor often influences India’s Sri Lanka policy to ensure regional peace.
• Election-Based Bilateral Ties: Sri Lanka’s ruling coalitions shape India ties based on internal electoral pressures, making India-Sri Lanka relations fluctuating.
  For example: The JVP-led NPP government’s unclear stance on 13A might alter future bilateral relations.

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Way Forward

• Encouraging Provincial Elections: India should work with Sri Lanka to ensure that Provincial Council elections are held soon, strengthening Tamil representation.
  For example: India could support electoral monitoring and governance training for provincial leaders.
• Leveraging Economic Diplomacy: India can use investments in Tamil-majority areas to ensure provincial councils get funding and autonomy for local governance.
  For example: India’s Colombo-East Container Terminal deal can be tied to commitments on devolution.
• Multilateral Pressure for 13A Implementation: India can engage global bodies like the UNHRC to ensure Sri Lanka remains accountable to its devolution commitments.
  For example: India has supported UNHRC resolutions advocating Tamil rights but avoids coercive pressure.
• Strengthening People-to-People Ties: More scholarships, cultural exchanges, and direct Tamil Nadu-Sri Lanka collaborations can boost regional integration.
  For example: The Katchatheevu festival and cultural initiatives promote India-Tamil bonding.
• Flexible Diplomacy with Colombo: India should balance Tamil rights advocacy with Sri Lanka’s sovereignty concerns, ensuring long-term cooperation rather than confrontation.
  For example: India’s non-interference in Sri Lanka’s domestic policies since 1991 has helped stabilize ties.

The effective implementation of the 13th Amendment is pivotal for promoting ethnic harmony and political stability in Sri Lanka. India’s consistent advocacy for this process underscores its commitment to regional peace and the protection of Tamil rights, reinforcing the bilateral relationship between the two nations. 

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