| Abstract: | A transfer of central governmental authority to regional governmentsis being tried in Sri Lanka in an attempt to resolve ethnicconflict. In November 1987, Sri Lanka established a system ofprovincial councils. This system will allow regional autonomyin the country's nine provinces. It is hoped that this councilsystem will resolve complaints by the nation's largest ethnicminority, the Sri Lanka Tamils. The system falls short of beinga true federal arrangement, however, because it leaves extensivepower in the hands of the president and the national legislature.In addition, the plan is opposed by important groups in thesociety. The more militant Sri Lanka Tamil leaders have opposedthe plan because it transfers too little power to the councils.Also, long-standing fears among the nation's largest ethnicgroup, the Sinhalese, have generated a violent response frommilitant members of this ethnic group. The government and moderateSri Lanka Tamil leaders are now seeking to implement the provincialcouncil system. |
