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APRC should address the ethnic problem by following the Political Party system in the West, and disbanding political parties with communal distinctions.

By Charles. S.Perera

All Party Representative Committee set to find a political solution to the so called ethnic problem in Sri Lanka has entered into an extended period of gestation. The Chairman of the Committee had visited many countries to study the constitutions to find out how they had solved their ethnic problem.

The government, the politicians, and the political parties speak about a devolution of political power, as a determinant factor for the solution of the ethnic problem. But no one seems to have addressed oneself to a crucial point in the solution of the ethnic problem, which is how the ethnic problem has been solved in the West. The visits to different countries and studying their constitutions do not seem to have opened their eyes towards a distinctly different aspect of the devolution of political power.

The ethnic problem in my opinion has arisen from the numerous political parties, that have been set up to represent different ethnic groups. This has resulted in distancing each ethnic group from one another. The Western countries have solved the problem by having national political parties, without any ethnic distinction. Any person from any ethnic group could be a member of one of the National Political Parties, as long as he is a citizen of the country. This avoids clashes between the communities that make up the nation, and provides a healthy political environment.

This is the "crucial point", which should be addressed to in Sri Lanka. Why Should there be a Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, a Tamil United Liberation Front or a Sinhala Maha Sabha. We could instead have Sri Lanka Democratic Party, and a Sri Lanka Republican Party imitating USA. We have ourselves such parties without a communal distinction, such as the Lanka Samasamaja Party, Sri Lanka Communist Party, National Liberation Front (JVP), Sri Lanka Freedom Party, or United National Party.

This is the most simple way to settle the ethnic problem. APRC had so far been wasting their time looking else where, when the solution is not that far away. APRC should propose the disbanding of all political parties with a communal identity in Sri Lanka. The Tamils, Sinhala , Muslims, and all those who have obtained Sri Lanka citizenship should become members of the National Parties. If there is still a problem with regard to the Language, the Parties may have Sinhala, Tamil and English as working languages.

This would avoid lot of problems Sri Lanka is faced with in respect of ethnicity. This new system would give equal status to all communities. Setting up of Political Parties with communal distinction should be made illegal.

One sees how the National Political Party System works in USA, today, a complete outsider representing the Afro-Americans is on the way to be the next President of USA. This could be the same any where else in the West. Therefore the solution for the ethnic problem in Sri Lanka should be solved following a similar political party system.

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