MINORITIES HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY NOW TO SUPPORT THE PRESIDENT, NOT BE MISLEAD.
Posted on November 20th, 2014
By Noor Nizam – Peace and Political Activist,”Api Marakkalayo Sangvidahana – Naam Muslimgal Iyakkam”
What ever may be said about the President, the people have a soft corner for him in their hearts. The success of the UPFA in all elections is NOT the political popularity of it’s members or parliamentarians (MP’s).
The people voted UPFA and the betel leaf because they wanted to vote the President to victory. Again he has come before the people. Mahinda Rajapaksa is NOT a politician made, he is a LEADER.
As the President during the 4 years period of his second term, President Mahinda Rajapaksa has failed to focus on the minority community issues, rather concentrate only on infrastructure development, while making sure that the issues of the majority community had his full attention.
As a Sinhalese Buddhist leader in a country where 74% of the population are Sinhalese, what the President was doing was correct. But now, the President has to think about the minority communities too. Concerning the Sri Lankan Muslims who represent 7-8%, the President had been misguided to ignore the “Muslim Factor”.
Muslim ministers and parliamentarians of the SLFP and member representatives of the coalition parties, specially from the North and East and the UNP Muslim parliamentarians are to be blamed for this dire political situation of the Sri Lankan Muslims. Hon. (Minister) Rishad Bathiudeen, leader of the ACMC and Hon. (MP) Hassanali, Secretary General of the SLMC have been outspoken in their views about the “MUSLIM FACTOR” and allied political issues of the Sri Lankan Muslims.
The other Muslim entities, civil societies and self proclaimed community leaders failed the opportunities that were plenty to engage President Mahinda Rajapaksa in resolving Muslim issues and the “MUSLIM FACTOR”. Now they tell the Muslim voters we have all failed.
The President has to reach out to the minority communities. The President has to especially reach out to the Muslim community, the Muslim voters. The President has to be SINCERE when dealing with the Muslims.
Assurances given and promises made should be HONOURED by the LEADER, not to be deceptive as made by a politician. The MUSLIM FACTOR has to be resolved. HE. Mahinda Rajapaksa can then enjoy confidence that the majority of the Muslim votes will be casted for him.
The Sri Lankan Muslims want to be a part of HE. Mahinda Rajapaksa’s 3rd., term Presidential election victory. The Muslims know that the President who is loved by the people will win again. The Muslim voters ask the LEADER to give them this opportunity.
Noor Nizam.
November 20th, 2014 at 4:01 pm
“As the President during the 4 years period of his second term, President Mahinda Rajapaksa has failed to focus on the minority community issues, rather concentrate only on infrastructure development, while making sure that the issues of the majority community had his full attention.”
This is a COMPLETE LIE.
You should know better how much Muslims in Trinco and SL benefitted from MR. Let me remind you.
1. Tremendous infrastructure development in Trinco including bridges brought MASSIVE BUSINESS for Muslims.
2. Muslims fishermen have become BILLIONAIRS since 2005 because LTTE threat is not there.
3. President 3 weeks ago opened COMPUTER LABS in Muslim schools in Trinco, etc. NO ONE ever did this.
4. Muslims throughout SL today live in PEACE without being bombed to DUST in hundreds inside mosques or in buses or at schools. Remember Kathankudi Jumma Masjeed?
5. Muslims are the RICHEST people in the country making use of economic surge brought by the MR govt. in 2009.
6. A Muslim chief minister for the first time! (LOSE this if UNP wins.)
7. Moderate Muslims have been protected from WAHAB Muslim extremists.
8. Muslims are the MAJORITY in Colombo city and they are RICHER than Endian Muslims, Pakistani Muslims, Bangladeshi Muslims and LOCALS! All thanks to MR.
9. Over 1,090 mosques have been built since 2005. NO OTHER religious group had such an increase.
10. Mulsim population growth is 2.4% which is the HIGHEST of all communitites. IF the govt. is not supporting Muslims THRIVE, how come their numbers grow?
11. Muslim shops are in EVERY TOWN today. They are making A LOT of money. How come without MR govt.’s support?
12. A VERY LARGE increase in Muslims in govt. universiities, law college, etc. since 2005. OBVIOUSLY the govt. supports them study.
13. Muslims in SL have been SAVED from EAGER Endian, US, Russian, Chinese, Israeli attempts to harm them. DON’T take this for granted. Just read world news to see HOW LUCKY SL Muslims are!!
So stop this EXTORTION. MR GOSL has done more to the Muslim community than to any other!
“The Muslim voters ask the LEADER to give them this opportunity.”
They have the opportunity on the election day to VOTE for MR!!
Just do it. Do your noble and GRATEFUL task of voting for MR in the GIVEN OPPORTUNITY or suffer under a US puppet UNP government.
November 20th, 2014 at 4:59 pm
Lorenzo,
you said quote- or suffer under a US puppet UNP government -unquote. US puppet governments are good in Saudi, Qatar, Afghanistan, Libya and going great for Islam. So will they vote for the President ?
November 20th, 2014 at 5:19 pm
Lorenzo – eventually, it will be the usual “vaasi paththata hoiya” as far as Muslim vote is concerned.
The majority of this 7-8% Muslim population are not of voting age and matter little, if at all, in the election of the President. Perhaps it is more realistic for candidates to concentrate more on the Sinhala vote.
November 20th, 2014 at 6:02 pm
Independent,
NOT true.
USA is a puppet of Saudi and Qatar where Muslims are safe and happy. These AQ and ISIS financiers CONTROL USA.
Agree with the rest. Islam is having a GREAT time in Libya, GITMO and Afghanistan. My friend from Trinco has forgotten how SL govt. JOINED USA’s war on Islam in 2002 under UNP. He was VERY critical of it at that time when I met him to discuss WEEKLY killing of Muslims and good Tamils by the LTTE during that time. Oh! Canada.
November 20th, 2014 at 6:14 pm
DH,
That is right. “vaasi paththata hoiya”
But their number is 9.5% today and growing FAST. 50% of them are under 18 compared to 40% for others. This makes their voters percentage 9%. But they have registered in TWO districts for voting and cast BOTH votes. And they also send 17 year old kids with ballot cards of dead relatives to vote.
My estimate is 15% of all valid votes are cast by them. This is why politicians are going after their votes.
November 20th, 2014 at 7:06 pm
Lorenzo,
Yes, their total population amounts to some 1.9 million or 9% . If we consider 50% of this 1,9 m. as those eligible to vote, we could estimate a total of some 1 million eligible voters. However, the general voter turnout in the 2010 election was about 74.5% of the eligible number. Assuming that 75% of eligible Muslim voters will case their votes, the total number of Muslim votes would amount to a mere 745,000. Compare this with the total voter turnout at the 2010 election which was about 11 million, the vast majority being Sinhala voters. Even with the possibility of devious actions such as registering in two districts and voting for dead relatives, they will not be able to muster a voter base that matters, that would have any significant effect on the final outcome.
November 20th, 2014 at 7:31 pm
I have THIS ADVICE for those INCURABLY LOST FOLKS bent on UNDERMINING the Govt of Sri Lanka: “Ask Not For Whom The Bell Tolls … It Tolls For Thee!”
………………………….
Sri Lanka at risk of increased terrorist activity, ranks 36th in Global Terrorism Index
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Nov 20, Colombo: Sri Lanka has been identified as one of the 13 countries that are being at risk of increased terrorist activity from current levels in the 2014 Global Terrorism Index Report released Wednesday.
The second edition of the Global Terrorism Index (GTI) report, produced by the London-based Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), has ranked Sri Lanka at 36th place with a score of 4.01 out of 10 among 162 countries.
The report, which provides a comprehensive summary of the key global trends and patterns in terrorism over the last 14 years from 2000 to 2013, has highlighted 13 countries that are not in conflict but at risk of higher levels of terrorism.
In addition to Sri Lanka, Angola, Bangladesh, Burundi, Central African Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Iran, Israel, Mali, Mexico, Myanmar, and Uganda are identified as at risk of increased terrorism due to the presence of four factors – extrajudicial killing, lack of women’s political rights, lack of intergroup cohesion and political instability.
The GTI, which was first launched in 2012, is based on data from the Global Terrorism Database (GTD) which is collected and collated by the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START).
It ranks countries by the impact of terrorist activities as well as analyzing the economic and social dimensions associated with terrorism.
The GTI report summarizes trends in terrorism over time and analyses its changing patterns in terms of geographic activity, methods of attack, organizations involved and the national economic and political context.
According to the GTI report, in 2013 terrorist activity increased substantially with the total number of deaths rising from 11,133 in 2012 to 17,958 in 2013, a 61 percent increase.
In 2013 more than 80 percent of the lives lost to terrorism occurred in only five countries – Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nigeria and Syria and terrorism in 2013 was dominated by four organizations – Islamic State, Boko Haram, Al-Qaeda and the Taliban, collectively responsible for 66 percent of all fatalities.
In South Asia India ranked at 6th place with significant terrorist activity, including on the border between India and Pakistan. Bangladesh ranked at 23rd, on the GTI, a notch above Nepal at 24th.
November 20th, 2014 at 8:22 pm
No other Govt in history has done so much to Muslims and other minor communities than this current President. What you expect from him to allow you to open mosques in every corner of the country like in Saudi or to plant date trees? Just be happy with what you got from every Govt without specially from this Govt and try to live peacefully with the Majority my dear. We know that ” Tahmbia Thoppiya Harena Paththata Kiyala” but dont worry most of the Muslims prefer Mahinda Rajapaksa as their leader except some stooges because they have every freedom to live, Worship and do businesses.. What else you need. If you need a UNITED LANKA vote for this great man.
November 20th, 2014 at 9:06 pm
DH,
A brilliant analysis.
1. But they always vote MORE than their numbers. Some of them have registered in TWO districts. The district where their business is and their home.
e.g. Kalutara and Colombo, Kandy and Colombo, Amparei and Colombo/Kandy, Puttlam and Colombo, etc.
This is WELL KNOWN to political circles but is not reflected in numbers.
2. SL migrant workers in the middle east, etc. is 1.8 million and ALL of them are voters. VAST majority of them are Sinhalese. They DON’T vote. As a result the effective Muslim vote increases. VERY FEW Muslims work abroad comparatively.
3. 275,000 army, navy, air force and police personnel are NOT allowed to vote. They have to report to work and NO postal voting. 99% of them are Sinhalese. ALL of them voters. As a result the effective Muslim vote increases.
4. Mosques become election propaganda shops during election time. They vote AS ONE BLOCK which is very powerful.
November 20th, 2014 at 9:30 pm
Lorenzo,
SO, what U R saying is ,
* Send more Sinhalese to work in ME
* Let tem register in two place
* Make sure armed forces don’t vote
* Support the mosques
tactics will work for our President this time and your good friend Mr. Noor is aware of these methods.
Are you happy about this method ?
November 20th, 2014 at 9:51 pm
Independent,
No way. What I’m saying is these WRONGS must be corrected. OTHERWISE the Islamic crowd is at an UNFAIR advantage.
I’m trying to prove WHY the Islamic crowd is considered worthy more than 9% or 7% BY POLITICIANS.
These must change. MOST of them are going to vote AGAINST MR this time. So MR must change these.
November 21st, 2014 at 7:46 am
Sorry, Due to internet issues, I could NOT respond to “LORENZO’S” (November 20th, 2014 at 4:01 pm) first comment.
All what he has stated cannot be accepted and are just statements. Even if they were apparent, clarity is as follows:
Points:
1. Yes the bridge was built. That is infra structure development. The livelihoods of the normal Muslims, Sinhalese and Tamils, especially the Muslims living in Kinniya/Mutur districts has never improved.
3. Opening computer labs is a general amenity provided by the Ministry of Education/Economic Development to all school island wide. NOT only to Muslim schools.
5. Muslims are NOT the richest community in Sri Lanka. A few hundred Muslims, among those living in the City and Urban ares, YES are very rich. 98% of the Sri Lankns are on the margin or below poverty level in the rural areas.
6. A Muslim Chief Minister ( Good for nothing) and an embarrassment to the SLFP/UPFA.
7. This has nothing to do with the “MUSLIM FACTOR”. Do not mix up things please.
8. Completely FALSE. The Tamils are also having majority in Banbalapitiya, Wellawatte and some areas of Dehiwela.
9. COMPLETELY FALSE.
11. This has been a tradition and due to COMMUNAL HARMONY. Just like the bakeries and “silarakada” run by the Sinhalese in EVERY TOWN.
12. Just an imaginary statement.
13. Has NOTHING TO DO with the Muslim Factor in Sri Lanka.
I have to once again repeat what I has expressed above:
Muslim ministers and parliamentarians of the SLFP and member representatives of the coalition parties, specially from the North and East and the UNP Muslim parliamentarians are to be blamed for this dire political situation of the Sri Lankan Muslims. Hon. (Minister) Rishad Bathiudeen, leader of the ACMC and Hon. (MP) Hassanali, Secretary General of the SLMC have been outspoken in their views about the “MUSLIM FACTOR” and allied political issues of the Sri Lankan Muslims.
The other Muslim entities, civil societies and self proclaimed community leaders failed the opportunities that were plenty to engage President Mahinda Rajapaksa in resolving Muslim issues and the “MUSLIM FACTOR”. Now they tell the Muslim voters we have all failed.
The President has to reach out to the minority communities. The President has to especially reach out to the Muslim community, the Muslim voters. The President has to be SINCERE when dealing with the Muslims.
The MUSLIM FACTOR has to be resolved. HE. Mahinda Rajapaksa can then enjoy confidence that the majority of the Muslim votes will be casted for him.
Noor Nizam.
Peace and Political Activist,”Api Marakkalayo Sangvidahana – Naam Muslimgal Iyakkam”