Senior Indian diplomat may become ’13A envoy’: Report

India may appoint a special envoy to deal with Sri Lankan authorities with regard to the 13th amendment to the constitution,  diplomatic sources in New Delhi say.

The controversial amendment, introduced after the late Rajiv Gandhi signed an agreement in Colombo in 1987, provided the legal basis for the establishment of provincial councils,

The ‘Deshaya’ newspaper claimed that officials at the South Block premises of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs had already initiated discussions on this issue.

Reports added that a senior diplomat, who earlier worked as the Indian High Commission to Sri Lanka, is likely to be appointed to the post.

Indian officials and government leaders have often reiterated the need for the full implementation of the 13th amendment to calm political groups such as the Tamil National Alliance.