Sri Lanka's President Dissanayake pledges to return state-grabbed lands to Tamils
Sri Lanka’s President Anura Kumara Dissanayake
Sri Lanka’s President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Sunday (Nov 10) vowed to return land currently controlled by state agencies to Tamils in the country’s war-affected north and east.
What did he say?
Speaking at a rally in Jaffna just days ahead of the November 14 parliamentary elections, Dissanayake pledged that his government would return lands taken by the archaeology and forestry departments, which have sparked protests from local communities.
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This was his first rally in Tamil-majority areas since becoming president in September. Acknowledging that his previous campaign in Tamil regions had fallen short, Dissanayake admitted his party, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), had not done enough to connect with Tamil voters. He promised to work harder to earn their trust.
“We got just over 27,000 votes in Jaffna. This was because we did not convey our message effectively to the Tamil-speaking people. It was also because we did not work as hard in the north as we did in the [Sinhala majority] south.” He said that the situation had been now rectified.
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The president also announced that elections for provincial councils and local bodies—currently suspended—would be held soon, allowing Tamils to elect their own representatives.
“We will make sure that your own representatives can lead and govern your areas,” he said.
Dissanayake did not directly address the longstanding demand for more political autonomy for the Tamil regions. His election manifesto, however, promises that a new constitution would tackle the ethnic issue, though the specifics remain unclear.
His rally saw an enthusiastic turnout, with many participants seeing it as a sign of growing support for him among Tamils who had previously been sceptical of his leadership due to his party's past opposition to Tamil rights.
“So many of you showing up today shows that you are willing to place your trust in us,” President Dissanayake said.
Addressing the region’s economic challenges, including concerns like joblessness and the growing use of narcotics, Dissanayake vowed to revive local industries, support farmers and fishermen, and protect local marine resources from illegal fishing by Indian trawlers.
(With inputs from agencies)
