-By Political Correspondent
(Lanka-e-News -04.Sep.2024, 10.30 pm) Sajith Premadasa, a key presidential candidate, has made a significant election pledge to the Tamil community, promising to fully implement the 13th Amendment and merge the Northern and Eastern Provinces. This promise, aimed at gaining support from Tamil voters, has sparked widespread concern among Muslim and Sinhalese communities, particularly in the Eastern Province.
The proposed merger has caused alarm among Muslims living in the East, who fear that they will become a minority in the region if the predominantly Tamil Northern Province is merged with the East. Similarly, Sinhalese groups are concerned that they will become a "minority of minorities" in the newly merged province, further marginalizing their influence.
Muslim political leaders such as Rauff Hakeem and Rishad Bathiudeen, along with religious leaders who have supported Sajith, are reportedly worried about the implications of this promise. They fear it could disrupt the delicate balance of community relations in the Eastern Province. Tamil politicians are also upset, questioning why Sajith has raised an issue that they believe could divide communities in the region.
The pledge has drawn sharp criticism from other political figures, including Patali Champika Ranawaka, G. L. Peiris, and Nalaka Godahewa, who argue that merging the provinces could be detrimental to the country's unity. Additionally, Buddhist leaders have expressed their opposition, viewing the merger as potentially harmful to their community.
Sajith's election promise is seen by some as an attempt to gain favor with Tamil voters, a demographic that has historically been skeptical of him due to his father, R. Premadasa's, involvement in policies perceived as anti-Tamil during the civil war. Tamil leaders, such as M. A. Sumanthiran, have expressed cautious optimism but remain skeptical about the feasibility and sincerity of Sajith's promises.
The 13th Amendment, which was introduced in 1987 under pressure from India, has long been a contentious issue in Sri Lankan politics. Many in Sri Lanka view it as an imposition of Indian influence, and its full implementation has been resisted by various governments. Sajith's pledge to revive this agenda has thus reignited old tensions, raising questions about its impact on national unity and the upcoming election.
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by (2024-09-04 17:34:43)
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