The Hon. Mohamed Nizam Kariapper

¶ 01 Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim. Hon. Presiding Member, this is a historic moment — a first speech is a historic opportunity to present one’s policy to the people. Just as the Hon. Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s first speech to this House as President was historic, so is ours as first speeches. Therefore, I kindly request leniency regarding time for first-time speakers.

¶ 02 I stand here as a National List MP representing the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC). I thank our Leader, Hon. Rauff Hakeem, party members and all voters. I also remember with love and respect our late founder, M.H.M. Ashraff. I thank the Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Sajith Premadasa, and the SJB for facilitating my appointment.

¶ 03 The SLMC was formed to secure independent political representation for the Muslim community. In a democracy, forming a political party is the primary means to represent an unrepresented social group. In recent history, the JVP and later the NPP demonstrated, within a democratic framework, how to use elections to gain power — the leadership of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is the best example.

¶ 04 I conveyed to Hon. Vijitha Herath that I have never heard of such a democratic, peaceful revolution. Conversely, the Tamil-speaking Tamils and Muslims have had the most unsuccessful experience in gaining political rights through elections; it transformed into an armed struggle and ended as a war, causing great destruction and spreading a new culture of majoritarian chauvinism. I attribute this to the then prevailing electoral system. Had we had the current system back then, perhaps that ethnic war would not have emerged. To prevent future calamity, we must preserve the current proportional system, correcting deficiencies if any. The present Government — the NPP — came to power with a huge mandate through this system.

¶ 05 We (SLMC) held several discussions with the JVP, with Hon. Vijitha Herath and Hon. Anura Kumara Dissanayake participating. My late Leader Ashraff brought the first progressive amendment to J.R.’s Constitution’s electoral law. We have proposed a procedure to ensure local-level representation within the proportional system. We are discussing this with the Opposition parties and hope the Government will respond positively. The President gave a positive response today to our Leader. Then we can hold Local Government elections as a precursor to Provincial Council and Parliamentary elections.

¶ 06 Sri Lankan identity can be built only within a framework that grants equal and fair opportunity not only to large groups but also to minorities. We pray that no more Rohana Wijeweeras or Prabhakarans will arise; even within the Muslim community, extremism must be prevented, and the best safeguard is inclusive democracy. I will conclude shortly.

¶ 07 I delivered in Sinhala so that the majority community clearly understands our party’s policy. In future, I will speak on the problems of our people, particularly in the Eastern Province and Kalmunai. Lastly, I pray for peace for the people suffering in Palestine. Thank you.