Question

The 13th amendment has been a point of contention between India and Sri Lanka. The 13th amendment provided for__________
1. Establishment of provincial councils.
2. Taking action against the human rights violators.
3. Creation of a second chamber in the central legislature.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
A. 1 only
B. 1 and 2 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D.1,2 and 3

Answer 1

Hint:1. The Thirteenth Amendment (13 A) is predicated on the Indo-Sri Lanka accord signed between the Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Sri Lankan President HR Jaywardene
2. It was a shot to resolve Srilanka’s ethnic conflict that was developing into a full-fledged warfare.

Complete answer:
Indian intervention in Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka between 1987 and 1990 resulted in the establishment of The 13th Amendment. It assured an influence sharing arrangement to enable all nine provinces within the country, including Sinhala majority areas, to self-govern The Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution provides for-
a.The establishment of Provincial Councils.
b. The appointment and powers of the Governor of Provinces.
c. Membership and tenure of Provincial Councils.
d. The appointment and powers of the Board of Ministers.
e. The Legislative powers of the Provincial Councils.
f. Alternative arrangements where there's a failure within the administrative machinery.
g. The establishment of the Finance Commission.
h. Tamil as an official language.
i. English as a link language.
j. The establishment of the tribunal of the Province.

Hence, option A is the correct answer.

Note:1.Till date, the Amendment represents the sole constitutional provision on the settlement of the long-pending Tamil question.
2.The Tamil polity, especially its dominant nationalist strain, doesn't find the 13th Amendment sufficient in its extent.