The accord required a referendum to be held by 31 December 1988 in the Eastern Province to decide whether the merger should be permanent.
The Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front, an Indian backed paramilitary group, won control of the North Eastern provincial council.
On 1 March 1990, just as the Indian Peace Keeping Force were preparing to withdraw from Sri Lanka, Annamalai Varatharajah Perumal, Chief Minister of the North Eastern Province, moved a motion in the North Eastern Provincial Council declaring an independent Eelam.
[6] President Premadasa reacted to Permual's UDI by dissolving the provincial council and imposing direct rule on the province.
However, the referendum was never held and successive Sri Lankan presidents issued proclamations annually extending the life of the "temporary" entity.
[4] On 16 October 2006 the Supreme Court ruled that the proclamations issued by President Jayewardene were null and void and had no legal effect.
The Northern province was ruled directly from Colombo (via the centrally appointed governor) until 21 September 2013 when elections were held.
[8] Matters on this list include agriculture, education, health, housing, local government, planning, road transport and social services.
[8] Matters on this list include archaeological sites, employment, environmental protection, fisheries, higher education, price control and tourism.
[10] The United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA), which was in power nationally, became the second largest group after winning 7 seats.
[14] The current Governor of the Northern Province G. A. Chandrasiri was appointed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa and took office on 12 July 2009.