Democratic Party predicts weakened minority representation in next Parliament

Chairman of the Democratic Party (DP) Dr. Arosha Fernando said that representation of minority groups in Parliament was likely to be further reduced in the forthcoming parliamentary election.Major political parties had gradually and, perhaps, deliberately reduced minority representation over the years and that development posed quite a threat to a balanced Parliament, he said.

The DP contests the Puttalam, Batticaloa and Digamadulla electoral districts. “We intend to contest the next Provincial Council countrywide,” Fernando said.

Asked whether ex-MPs contested on the DP ticket, under the ‘Flaming Torch’ symbol, Fernando said that there weren’t any former parliamentarians on their lists. “Perhaps as many as 99% of contestants are newcomers,” he said.

When The Island pointed out that the DP that had been formed in 2013 ahead of the 2015 general election belonged to the then former war-winning Army Commander General Sarath Fonseka, Fernando disclosed that in the wake of the Field Marshal’s decision to contest the recently concluded presidential poll as an independent candidate the DP’s control was passed to Senaka de Silva, an ex-aide to Fonseka.

Referring to NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s victory at the 21 Sept. presidential election, Fernando said that political parties sought to reach consensus with minority parties regarding submission of nominations.

At the last parliamentary election, conducted in August 2020, the SLPP refrained from nominating a single candidate from a minority community in Colombo and other parties also had minimal representation from minority groups, the DP Chairman said. “The SLPP overall had a reduced number of minority candidates in their nomination list compared to UNP and SJB,” he said.

Responding to another query Fernando pointed out that a study, funded by the European Commission, had recently highlighted what he called the deterioration of minority representation in Parliament.

Research by Oxford Brookes University as part of the ‘minority empowerment for democracy and pluralism programme’ had revealed that major national parties have successively reduced the space within their parties for minorities to participate and raise their issues, Dr. Fernando said. The study also stressed that minority ethnic parties are also divided and their campaigning is shaped by the majority agenda rather than the needs and rights of their communities.

According to the study: “The main national parties in Sri Lanka have had a history of nominating representatives from minority communities who have gone on to take leadership positions. This is changing now with minority politicians in these parties often feeling isolated and finding fewer opportunities to raise minority rights issues further identified by the conducted research.”

Fernando said that the research also stressed the failure on the part of political parties to nominate women from minority communities.

The main parties need to nominate more women from minority communities, and they need to offer them funds and support to be able to contest, the report added, pointing out no ethnic Tamil or Muslim woman had been elected or nominated to the last Parliament of Sri Lanka – 2020 to 2024.

Minority representation is in danger of splintering and weakening at the next Sri Lankan election, the new research revealed.

Major national parties, such as the UNP, SJB and SLPP, have successively reduced the space within their parties for minorities to participate and raise their issues while minority ethnic parties are divided and their campaigning is shaped by the majority agenda rather than the needs and rights of their communities, Fernando said referring to the study.

Minority MPs from the Muslim and Malaiyaga community preferred to be part of the government because they see it as an opportunity to do something for their community. This recent desperation to move with power has seriously affected their legitimacy and credibility, leaving voters from this community in despair, the report added.

Fernando said: “This is especially a concern in the Eastern province in this election where many new independent candidates are contesting and there are lots of splits in parties. This competition between parties and ethnic groups creates unnecessary tensions and increases the prospect of violence.

The NPP also has significant work to do to promote minority representation and rights within their party. In the last election the party fielded only one minority candidate out of a total of 15 in Colombo, at the last presidential election they offered little to minorities on substantive issues of rights or reconciliation and they mainly function in the Sinhalese language, excluding Tamil speaking populations.

The NPP has made strong commitments towards increasing women’s representation in their nomination list, which they need to advance to those from minority communities as well.”