Divisive Politics And Muslims

By Hilmy Ahamed -December 28, 2014

Hilmy Ahamed

The reduction of the cut-off point from 12.5 to 5 percent by PresidentRanasinghe Premadasa to appease M H M Ashraff, and retain the support of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) could be termed as the seeds that were planted to create racial politics. The reduction in the cut off point in each electoral district, to qualify for a seat in parliament paved the way for minority and small parties to get elected on their own, mostly along the communal divide. This led to the creation of the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) and number of minority political alliances. This also led the re-entry of the Janatha Vimukuthi Peramuna’s foray in to the democratic mainstream with hopes of wider representation.

Traditionally, the Muslims have been part and parcel of mainstream politics through the United National Party (UNP) and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) with very small groups supporting the left movements. M H M Ashraff’s creation of the Muslim congress with co-founder Ahammed Lebbe of Kattankuddy in 1981 was the beginning of a separate political identity for the Muslims in this country. M H M Ashraf directed the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress to a new vision and mission after he assumed formal leadership of the SLMC in 1986. The merits of this has been questioned by many including M H M Ashraff himself who later wanted to distance his party from communal politics by forming the National Unity Alliance (NUA) with several non-Muslims in his leadership council. The yet to be resolved mysterious helicopter crash in September 2000 closed SLMC’s departure away from communal politics with the assumption of leadership by Hakeem, after a complicated process of negotiations with Ashraff’s widow, Ferial Ashraff. A L M Athaulla’s challenge to take over the leadership of the SLMC failed.Read More