All Tamil and Muslim political parties representing the North, East and plantation areas have decided to launch a new campaign demanding the immediate holding of Provincial Council elections, which have been postponed indefinitely by the current government.
As the first step of this campaign, representatives of six political parties recently held a media conference in Colombo to express their views on the matter.
Leaders and representatives of the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi, Tamil Progressive Alliance, Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, All Ceylon Makkal Congress, Democratic Tamil National Alliance and Ceylon Workers’ Congress attended the media conference.
It was noteworthy that three key political figures representing the Samagi Jana Balawegaya, led by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, also participated in the media conference. They were Tamil Progressive Alliance leader Mano Ganesan, Sri Lanka Muslim Congress leader Rauff Hakeem and All Ceylon Makkal Congress leader Rishad Bathiudeen.
In addition, Ceylon Workers’ Congress General Secretary Jeevan Thondaman, who was elected to Parliament at the recent election from the United National Party, also participated in the media conference.
It is also learned that the main objectives of forming this alliance are to pressure the government to present a new constitution as promised to the Tamil and Muslim people, hold Provincial Council elections, and resolve land issues in the North and East as well as in the plantation areas.
