CRITIQUE OF THE JULY 1987 INDO – SRI LANKA ACCORD THE ACCORD Broadly the accord required Sri Lanka to undertake specific constitutional measures to end discrimination against its Tamil minority and cease military operations in Northern and Eastern provinces, Tamil rebels to forego violence and surrender their weapons to the Government, and India to act as a guarantor for actions of both the Sri Lanka government and the Tamil groups in terms of the accord and to employ force, if needed. Key Political Provisions that the Accord Proposed to Execute An interim merger of the Tamil predominant Northern and Eastern Provinces into a single administrative unit within three months of signing of the accord and holding of elections, in the presence of Indian observers, to the Provincial Council by 31 December 1987. The final outcome of the merger will be subject to a referendum in Eastern Province to be held by 31 December 1988 and to be decided by simple majority. Sri