Sri Lanka government ally doubts Indian motives on UNHRC vote

Colombo: The National Freedom Front (NFF), a key ally of President Mahinda Rajapaksa today expressed doubts over India`s motives in abstaining at the UNHRC vote against Sri Lanka. "We have to closely examine why India abstained," Mohamed Muzammil, the NFF spokesman told reporters.

"India not only voted in favour of the resolution in 2012 and 2013, they played a leading role in getting votes in favour of the US resolutions each year," Muzammil stressed. "This year they abstained. We think that they now want to force Sri Lanka to implement the thirteenth amendment." Despite the concerns of his nationalist ally, President Rajapaksa, bouyed by India`s decision, ordered the immediate release of all Indian fishermen held in Sri Lankan custody for alleged poaching. India the architect of the 1987 Indo-Lanka Peace Accord between the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and President Jayawardene of Sri Lanka have been consistently advocating the thirteenth amendment as the solution to the demand of Tamil self determination. Sinhalese majority groups argue that a northern provincial council with unfettered political powers such as land and police force control would lead to the separation of the island.