Sri Lanka’s Buddhist clergy, the Maha Sangha, clashed with Sri Lankan police amidst their protest against the 13th amendment.
The demonstrators were barred by police from approaching Sri Lanka’s parliament. The nationalist Buddhist monks burned a copy of the 13th amendment to signal their anger at the president’s vow to implement the amendment.
The Sinhala Buddhist clergy has railed against the 13th amendment claiming that it would encourage separatism.
“Your predecessors did not implement the 13th amendment to the constitution because they were aware of the devastating impact this would have on the country, you are well aware of that. The executive president is there to enforce the people’s sovereignty. You will face people’s wrath by carrying out activities that weaken the central government,” they wrote to Sri Lanka’s president.
Across the North and East, Eelam Tamils have called for the rejection of the 13th amendment in favour of a federal solution.