Azath Salley

In recognition of the contributions made by the Sri Lankan overseas workers, the new regime under President Maithripala Sirisena will work out a new scheme to empower them with franchise to enable them to participate in the country’s subsequent polls.

Around one third of the island’s 1.7 million overseas workers are concentrated in the Kingdom. During the last presidential elections held on Jan. 8, Sri Lanka’s overseas population did not get an opportunity to cast their votes.

Former Deputy Mayor of Colombo and Muslim Tamil Unity Alliance leader Azath Salley, who is one of the partners in the present government group, told Arab News that his government would make all arrangements to give voting rights to the Lankan workers who are working abroad.

“We realize the contribution made to the national coffers by this section of the population,” Salley said, pointing out that they should be given their due rights to participate in the making of their own government.

Overseas employment is the largest source of foreign exchange in the Sri Lankan economy. Since the 1970’s when formal employment migration commenced, foreign employment has generated substantial inflows of remittance at the same time relieving pressure on unemployment of youth by providing employment abroad.

An estimated 1.7 million Sri Lankans are employed abroad impacting nearly 25 percent of the population. A total of 293,105 (59.7 percent of males and 40.3 percent females) left for employment in 2013. During 2013, the total remittances received amounted to $6.4 billion (LKR 827.7 billion).

Salley said that such a voting scheme will be coordinated through the Lankan missions abroad and the new government would work out the modalities in due course. Commenting on the stunning victory of the Maithripala Sirisena, Salley said that this was an act of divine justice.

He added that the people’s mandate has clearly shown that the people do not support corruption, nepotism and dictatorship. He said that the new president has the blessings of people of all faiths including Buddhists, Tamils and the Muslim communities.

Sally said the Tamil-speaking people in the country have placed great faith in the new president, Maithripala Sirisena.

He also said Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will render assistance in fulfilling the promises made to the people by Maithripala Sirisena to change futile political and economic programs and to establish an era of good governance.

He pointed out that the mandate of the voters has put an end to the culture of violence.

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