Introduction

The landslide victory of the National People’s Power (NPP) in this year’s Parliamentary and Presidential elections is a historic achievement that came on the heels of the #GotaGoHome protests, reflecting the public’s demand for accountable and professional leadership following the devastating economic crisis of 2022.

The election also signalled the fall of the Rajapaksa dynasty who ruled from 2005-2014 and 2019-2022, and whose rise was rooted in the military triumph over the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). While there is a need for a fresh approach to governance in Sri Lanka, addressing the lingering complexities of diaspora relations with Canada (home to 136,240 Sri Lankan-born persons) is also important.

The National People’s Power coalition

The NPP is a political coalition comprising political parties, trade unions, civil society organizations, youth organizations and women’s groups with the core objectives of “cultivating an uncorrupted, service-oriented, accountable, and transparent political culture, promoting economic democracy for fairer wealth distribution, strengthening social protections, and championing an inclusive, democratic Sri Lankan identity”. In its manifesto are also policies to improve the lives of the minority Malaiyaga Tamil community, especially in recognition of their long-standing contributions to the plantation industry, which amounts to 24% of the total export earnings in the country. In addition, the manifesto pledges to pave the way for Sri Lankan expatriates to vote in elections, for children born to Sri Lankans abroad being eligible for dual citizenship and to facilitate skilled expats overseas to invest in small and medium enterprises in Sri Lanka.

The NPP not only won the votes of the Sinhalese majority, but also led the vote in Jaffna Province with 3 seats, Vanni with 2 seats, Trincomalee with 2 seats and a seat in Batticaloa. The win in Jaffna was the first since independence from the British. These are districts with a higher concentration of Tamil and Muslim minorities most........

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