President Anura Kumara Dissanayake today met representatives of six Tamil and Muslim political parties at the Presidential Secretariat, where wide‑ranging discussions were held on constitutional reform, Provincial Council elections, and land and housing issues affecting communities in the North, East, and central highlands.

According to the President’s Office, party representatives raised concerns about the need for a complete constitutional amendment, challenges surrounding the conduct of Provincial Council elections, and land disputes faced by the Northern, Eastern, and plantation communities. The President noted that a Delimitation Commission has already been appointed and said he expects to engage in further dialogue on the issues.

Attention also turned to the government’s proposal for a new constitution. M.A. Sumanthiran, General Secretary of the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK), stressed that constitutional reform must be approached through broad social dialogue rather than rushed measures, warning against repeating past experiences where constitutions were introduced by one side alone.

President Dissanayake reiterated the government’s position that constitutional reform is essential and that the executive presidency must be abolished. However, he emphasized that more important than immediate amendments is the creation of a new people’s consensus, urging dialogue to build unity across communities. He said the foundation for a country where all act together as Sri Lankans has already been established under the present government, noting the absence of ethnic conflict in recent times and stressing the need for governance accountable to Parliament.

On plantation community issues, V. Radhakrishnan of the Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) welcomed the government’s proposal to grant legal ownership of 10 perches of land to estate workers and staff, a measure previously blocked by company opposition. 

The President added that landslides reported even in uninhabited highland areas highlight the need for sustainable solutions, and said a separate authority has already been established to address such challenges. He further noted that agreements with plantation companies must be renewed before 2042, with new provisions expected to grant legal land ownership to plantation people.

Housing projects under Indian assistance were also discussed. Jeevan Thondaman of the Ceylon Workers’ Congress (CWC) pointed out practical difficulties faced by residents in paying utility bills despite receiving house ownership. He said proposals have been made to integrate the Thondaman Foundation and Nevida Foundation to provide economic relief. The President added that larger allocations will be made in the 2027 Budget for the Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure.

The President said steps are being taken to resolve land issues in the North and Central Highlands, stressing that land must belong to the people, and noted that commissions have already been appointed to address these matters. He also announced plans to build 13,000 houses for war‑displaced people under two phases in the 2027 and 2028 Budgets, while disaster‑affected families will receive temporary housing and rent allowances until permanent homes are completed.

MPs expressed views on the Provincial Council electoral system and delimitation work, while the President highlighted problems caused by institutions such as the Department of Archaeology, Forest Conservation Department, and Mahaweli Authority continuing to operate under outdated policies, which have created difficulties for Northern and Eastern communities.

President Dissanayake thanked the alliance for coming together to discuss issues of Tamil‑speaking people and urged that attention be directed to common public concerns to avoid divisions in society.

Those present included representatives of the All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC), Ceylon Workers’ Congress (CWC), Democratic Tamil National Alliance (DTNA), Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK), Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), and Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA). (Newswire)

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Six Tamil and Muslim political parties have come together to form a common political platform aimed at jointly advocating for issues affecting Tamil-speaking communities across Sri Lanka, while stressing that the initiative is neither an electoral alliance nor an anti-government movement.

The platform brings together the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA), All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC), Ceylon Workers’ Congress (CWC), Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK), and the Democratic Tamil National Alliance (DTNA).

Speaking at the launch in Colombo on Monday, the leaders said the initiative seeks to address common concerns of Tamil-speaking communities living in the Northern, Eastern, Western and plantation regions.

Among the key priorities identified by the parties are urging the Government to introduce a new Constitution in line with its election pledge, ensuring justice, equality and meaningful power sharing, holding long-delayed Provincial Council elections, and resolving land-related issues affecting communities across the country.

The leaders said the platform would engage with the Government, opposition parties, civil society and religious leaders to pursue these issues through dialogue.

Responding to criticism that the grouping was based on ethnicity, the leaders rejected such claims, insisting that the platform was not a “racist alliance” but one that opposes racism.

They stressed that the initiative should not be interpreted as being against any ethnic community, nor as an alliance formed against the Government or in support of the opposition.

The parties said the platform would focus on areas where all six parties share common positions while continuing to maintain their individual political identities. 

Commenting on the initiative, TPA Leader Mano Ganesan said the initiative was not an electoral alliance, but a platform to advance a new Constitutional Process, early Provincial Council Elections, Land Rights in the Northern and Eastern Provinces and upcountry plantations, within an undivided Sri Lanka. 

Also commenting on the initiative, ITAK General Secretary M.A. Sumanthiran, said that it was the first time in decades that political representatives of the Northern, Eastern, Malaiyaha Tamil, and Muslim communities had established a collective political network to voice on agreed issues pertaining to Tamil-speaking communities.

“This is a platform where Tamil-speaking parties can raise a common voice on issues that affect us all. It is not an alliance. Each party remains free to hold its own political views, but where there is common ground, we will work together because a united voice carries greater strength,” he said. (Newswire)

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