In an interview with the pro-government newspaper, The Sunday Island, the Sri Lankan Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa called for the 'abolition of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution without further delay'.
Stating that the 13th Amendment was 'nothing but an impediment to the post-war development process', Gotabhaya Rajapaksa asserted 'that the SLFP-led UPFA should either do away with the 13th Amendment or amend it taking into considering ground realities'.
He went on to liken the constitutional amendment to the Norwegian led 2002 Ceasefire Agreement, and said:
"The 13th Amendment and the CFA didn’t serve the people of Sri Lanka. Instead, they facilitated interests of various other parties, including the LTTE. Interestingly both supported the separatist cause."
Asked whether it was his opinion or that of the government's, he reportedly remarked:
"I’m not talking about President Rajapaksa’s government or the UPFA. I’m not talking politics. People should realise the external interference will not be beneficial. Whatever the party in power, it must have the freedom to take decisions for the benefit of the majority of Sri Lankans."
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