India has turned down a Tamil National Alliance (TNA) request for the appointment of a special envoy to resolve the national question in Sri Lanka, Daliy Mirror learns.

TNA leader R. Sampanthan is said to have made this request when he met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but sources close to the TNA said the Indian leader had not responded positively to this request.

The TNA had reportedly said that the 13th Amendment to the Constitution was insufficient as a power sharing arrangement with the Tamil speaking people in the North and East. The TNA delegation had stressed the need for the re-merger of the Northern and Eastern provinces.

The TNA delegates had explained to the Indian The TNA delegates had explained to the Indian leaders the initiatives taken in the past to evolve a political solution to the national questin. They cited the appointment of a Parliamentary Select Committee headed by Minister Mangala Munasinghe, the political package introduced by former President Chandrika Kumaratunga and the All Party Representatives Committee (APRC) appointed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa leaders the initiatives taken in the past to evolve a political solution to the national question. They cited the appointment of a Parliamentary Select Committee headed by Minister Mangala Munasinghe, the political package introduced by former President Chandrika Kumaratunga and the All Party Representative Committee (APRC) appointed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The TNA said all political proposals made were based on the devolution of power beyond the 13th Amendment. However, Mr. Modi had reiterated that India was in favour of a solution that built upon the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.

Source: Daily Mirror - Sri Lanka