Sixth Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka 1983
Summary
The Sixth Amendment introduced Article 157A into the Sri Lanka Constitution, prohibiting any person from directly or indirectly supporting, espousing, promoting, financing, encouraging or advocating the establishment of a separate State within Sri Lanka. MPs must take an oath renouncing separatism. All Tamil MPs of the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) refused and vacated their seats, effectively excluding Tamil political representation from Parliament in 1983.
Relevance to the diaspora
The Sixth Amendment criminalises peaceful advocacy for Tamil self-determination within Sri Lanka's constitutional framework, meaning diaspora engagement with Tamil political parties that historically sought a federal or separate state is constrained; it is cited by SL authorities as basis to refuse diaspora activism.
Key provisions
- Art. 157A(1) — prohibition on supporting or advocating for a separate state
- Art. 157A(2) — oath requirement for MPs renouncing separatism
- Art. 157A(3) — automatic vacation of seat for violation