The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) came out and declared it would not back the merging of the Northern and Eastern provinces, as demanded by Tamil parties, stating that it was the “ambition of separatists”.
JVP Propaganda Secretary Vijitha Herath said the National People's Power (NPP) coalition which is led by the party, would not back the proposal.
“Ambition of the separatists has been to get the North and the East merged in order to show the international community that a majority in those areas are Tamils, hence they could demand a separate administration,” he told a press conference.
“Such a proposal has been submitted by Tamil political parties in every election. We are against this move.”
The merging of the provinces was effected in 1987 as part of the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord, until Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court declared it "null and void and illegal” in 2006.
The JVP and the hardline Buddhist JHU party campaigned against the merger, bringing it to the court and celebrated its ruling, with jubilant party members lighting firecrackers the building at the time.
