Government relations with other forces

Despite the impetus given to the Tamil cause by the events of July 1983 and the ongoing negotiations, there was no change in the government's attitude to crucial issues. No attempts were made to enhance opportunities in the public sector for education or employment.

With regard to devolution, far from there being any advance, the District Councils in the north and to some extent in the east, were rendered virtually defunct by the enforced dismissal of TULF members, who were unwilling to take the oath of allegiance to a unitary state prescribed under the sixth amendment to the constitution. Since the JVP, the only other party to contest the elections in 1981, had been proscribed, District Councils throughout the country, far from being an alternative repository of authority, became rubber stamps for the government. This situation was exacerbated by the government; using its powers under Emergency Regulations that were renewed without remission month after month, it postponed elections to these Councils when they were due, so that members elected in 1981 held office for over seven years.

The government did not explain why it was necessary to postpone these elections for the entire country. It was not due to the security situation for, continuing with its window-dressing operation, it held by-elections to a few select seats over the next few years. These were selected usually where the UNP's previous majority was large.