The Post-Independence Quest for Greater Devolution in Lanka
June 23rd, 2007
by D.B.S.JEYARAJ
The Banda – Chelva pact of 1957 was the first instance of Sinhala and Tamil leaders in post – independence Sri Lanka (or Ceylon then) attempting to resolve the Tamil national question through appropriate political arrangements. Three major grievances affecting Tamils in the spheres of language, land settlement and regional autonomy could have been redressed through the pact had it ever been allowed to work.It’s jettisoning by SWRD Bandaranaike led to further deterioration of ethnic relations resulting in massive communal violence. The causes leading to the B- C pact’s failure merit a more detailed analysis in the future.
[Statue of late prime minister D. S. Senanayake at the Independence Square, Colombo, Sri Lanka - Photo By Dhammika Heenpella]
1960 saw two elections to Parliament being held in March and July. A significant outcome of both polls was the re-iteration by Tamil voters in North – East that the Ilankai Thamil Arasu Kastchi (ITAK) or the Federal Party was their chief political party..[Continued..Read Full Article in Federalidea.com]
Entry Filed under: transCurrents
