Sri Lanka’s Ethnic Problem and Solutions

Published by Centre for Policy alternatives
Edit by lional guruge

Muslim Factor

The majority of the Muslim population in Sri lanka continue to live in areas away from the north and eastern provinces. They speak Tamil. Prior to the onset of the ethnic war, their identity was not a contentious political issue. It does not mean that the Muslim community did not really have problems when the ethnic war broke out in 1980's. Of course, their problems were not viewed in a political perspective. In the search for a political solution to the ethnic conflict, the Muslim community demanded a single administrative council in the eastern province. Though a similar proposal was included in the Bandaranaike Chelvanayakam Pact, it failed to gather momentum till the 1980s. Whilst the LTTE launched its campaign for a separate state, the Muslims put forward their claim mainly for an administrative unit which would guarantee there separate identity. The government made use of the Muslim community in the north and east for only war purposes and in consequence they fell easy victims to assassinations by the LTTE. Muslims who were evicted wholesale from the Jaffna peninsula by the LTTE in 1990 sought refuge in the eastern and southern parts of the country.

A host of problems such as devolution of power, security, land and levy of taxes gas seriously affected the lives of the Muslim community. The Muslim congress which really brought the Muslims to the political limelight is in crisis today. After the ceasefire agreement, the Muslim congress and the LTTE reached agreement on 06/04/2002 on the following lines:-

· Return of lands expropriated from the Muslim by the LTTE,

· Restraining levy of taxes from the Muslims,

· Recognition of Muslim Congress as the sole representative of the Muslim community.

· Establishment of peace committees at every village in the eastern province.

As the compliance with these assurances were not forthcoming problems arose again between the two parties.

 

Devolution of power to single regional council for north and east would result in a 17.6% reduction in the Muslim population.

It is quite natural for the Muslims to oppose any move to set up a single regional council, since their community constitutes 35% of the entire eastern province population. However, in the event of the eastern province being carved out, the devolution based on population and the extent of devolution would pose a challenge to the authorities.

Pondichery Model

As a possible solution to the ethnic crisis, the Muslims have manifested an interest in an Indian model put in to practice in Pondichery in South India- a centrally governed system applicable to geographically noncontiguous areas.

 

Source: Muslim Guardian