In a statement issued over the weekend, the Global Tamil Forum (GTF) said that it identifies the developments taking place in Sri Lanka as a potential trigger for meaningful and lasting changes in the country.
“Tamils in Sri Lanka have been struggling for their political rights over many decades. For the last 12 years, they have sought to overcome several crippling effects of the war, which include returning to their land to lead a normal life without an overpowering military presence and knowing the truth about their missing relatives,” the GTF stated on Saturday (16).
“Despite many commitments given locally and internationally by the Sri Lankan leaders, progress has been marginal at best, and the support from civil society from the South has been negligible. All of these have led to widespread apathy and cynicism among the Tamils regarding the present developments in the country.
“Whilst we share these disappointments of the Tamil community, the GTF recognises the remarkable and hopeful developments taking place in Sri Lanka and their potential to trigger meaningful and long-lasting changes in the country. It is all the more critical that this momentum should not be lost but lead to a historic transformation in the country, with no violence whatsoever from any quarters.”
The GTF noted that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s administration has been the “least competent” in Sri Lankan history.
It further stated that the economic crisis that has been developing over the last two years has led to a political crisis, adding that fear is rife that conditions will grow worse, “to the point of widespread hunger and malnutrition, which in the past was seen only in the Tamil areas during the war”.
“It is this desperation as well as the realisation of the incapacity, self-aggrandisement, repressive and autocratic rule of the Rajapaksa clan that is fuelling the spontaneous protests all across the country and among the Sri Lankan diaspora,” the GTF stated.
“Sri Lanka has undoubtedly reached its nadir in its post-independent history and is fast becoming a failed State. Its history of living beyond means; nation-building blunders that treated one-third of its people as second class citizens; policies of marginalising the Tamil community leading to the three-decades-long war of destruction, displacement, and huge defence expenditure; the inability to reap the benefits of peace post-2009 through political accommodation, demilitarisation of former conflict areas, and extensive economic support from the affluent Tamil Diaspora; and ill-considered, corruption-riddled megaprojects often with no scope of economic returns, nepotism – all of these have contributed to where the country finds itself today. This downward trajectory accelerated drastically under Gotabaya’s presidency – arguably the least competent Government in the history of Sri Lanka – as exemplified by its disastrous taxation and fertiliser policies.”
The GTF said that an effective transitional governance that will not have the Rajapaksas’ dominance, but will have the credence to seek support from international governments and institutions to alleviate the immediate livelihood difficulties of the people, is needed at the moment.
Furthermore, the GTF said that the governance structure of the country needs to be comprehensively overhauled, as a consensus seems to be evolving in Sri Lanka and among the diaspora (with the possibility of many groups working together), regarding the key features of a reformed State, which include abolishing the Executive Presidency and empowering the Parliament to be the centre of power; and ensuring meaningful power devolution to the regions as a means of empowering all communities.
“It is important that all these critical legal and constitutional reforms are carried out judiciously and concurrently,” the GTF noted.
Global Tamil Forum welcomes people’s protests
17 Apr 2022
Global Tamil Forum welcomes people’s protests
17 Apr 2022