Provincial council elections and Muslim factors

(Dr Rifai Naleemi - UK)

Provincial council elections are already over in some parts of Sri Lanka. Some people   have already begun to celebrate.  Some others are wondering what went wrong in their election campaign. Some have already begun to blame other party members for their downfall. Some other people blame the dirty political tricks for the downfall. Yet, as Muslim politicians should have done their home works well before they stand for election. We all know that Muslim candidates are normally elected with the support of Muslim voters except in some places where Muslim candidates have the support of Singhalese.  In the past, many Muslim candidates were elected with the support of Singhalese votes and yet, the situation is little bit changed today. With the ethno-communal politics the situation is little bit different today. Each community tend to vote their own candidate from their own community. That is the ground reality in Sri Lanka today and yet, how far this ground reality was realised and made to known to our politicians in this election.  

        I think that Muslim politicians and public have failed to realise that we live as minority in Sri Lanka.  Muslim community is scattered almost all part of Island. Our vote bank is limited. Except some part of eastern province in all other parts of Island we are living very much scattered.  Yet, what happened in this election is utter failure on the part of Muslim community to nominate selected numbers of Muslim candidate in each province.  Fortunately or unfortunately we Muslims have representation almost in all political parties in Sri Lanka.  A large number of Muslim candidates stood for this election from different political parties as result Muslim votes grossly distributed and dispersed   between different Muslim candidates. Consequently what happened was not enough Muslim candidates were elected.  This paved the way for other candidates being elected from other community.

We have lost many of our members with small margin or with few votes. Look at what happened in Akurana and Madwala? Look at what happened in Kurunagala and look at what happened in Puttalam? All these towns we have pockets of Muslim concentration and yet, we have not secured enough representation? What a political suicide is this? What a political madness is this?  Who is responsible for this political mess?

  We did enjoy more representation in the past. This happened when we did not have communal party such as Muslim congress. It is high time for Muslim community to revaluate and reconsider role of Muslim congress in Sri Lankan politics today.  It could be argued that this so called name only Muslim party has done more damage and harm for Muslim community than goodness it has brought for Muslim community? It could not take any constructive   measure in the face of all anti-Muslim campaign of BBS.  What is the point in having such political party? It rather serves some individuals. It is high time that Muslim community should encourage to dissolve this party or at least to confine it to Eastern Province only. There is no harm such party operates in eastern province and it could work with Tamil parties to serve Muslims in Eastern province and yet, its role in other part of Island is questionable.

It is my personal opinion that Muslim political downfall begun with Muslim congress. We should reconsider its position in our community. Look at the unity of Tamil parties in this election. Despite all differences among themselves they stood hand in hand in this election and won this historical victory. It is understandable that our demography and geography are different than that Tamils and yet, if we have unity among us we could have secured more places in this election: we do not need to be rocket scientists to know this simple fact. Those are gone days and yet, Muslim community should realise these political mistakes and mend the faults so that we could have good future in the politics of this country. I hope and pray that our political leaders realise this and work for the future of our community.  I do not have any political interest or political affiliation to any party and yet, I’m writing this good intention. I’m not intended to insult any one on this matter but I would like our community realises its political incorrectness.