In brief
Language
Education minister Richard Pathirana said on 21 September that Tamil will be taught in all Sinhala schools from January 2000, as a measure to promote ethnic reconciliation. He says 6,500 new teachers will be recruited to teach Tamil. Justice minister GL Peiris says that the government also intends to introduce an Equal Opportunities Bill in Parliament aimed at reducing fragmentation based on gender, ethnicity and other social distinctions.
Threat
Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) leader and Rehabilitation minister MHM Ashraff threatened in late September to quit the ruling People’s Alliance (PA), after Education minister Richard Pathirana declared that the PA did not need SLMC’s support.
Opposition
Sri Lanka voted against the establishment of a commission of enquiry for East Timor, at the United Nations. The commission would precede a tribunal to probe crimes against humanity by the Indonesian army and the military-backed militias in East Timor.
March
Sri Lankan development NGO Sarvodaya leader AT Ariyaratne said in early September that he will lead a million-strong peace march into LTTE territory in the north to urge the rebels and government troops to lay down arms. The march is scheduled for February 2000.
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