Tamil political parties oppose only moves to change demographic patterns

Several Tamil political parties in Sri Lanka say that they are only opposed to moves at colonisation that are aimed at changing the demographic patterns.

Democratic People’s Front (DPF) Leader Mano Ganesan has said the parties opposed and would continue to oppose only the planned colonisation projects with the motive of ethno-population engineering or changing the demographic patterns.

Ganesan made this comment in reference to a proposed plan by the security forces to settle families of the Army and other armed forces personnel in the North and east with an alleged view of changing the demographic pattern of the area.

“Already Tamils and Muslims are living amicably in the Northern Province. In the Eastern Province a vast number of Sinhalese are living with the Tamils and Muslims. That augurs well for national reconciliation. We welcome any member of any community to come and reside in the north and east,” the DPF Leader has said.

Meanwhile, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Parliamentarian M.A. Sumanthiran has said that members of the Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim and any other community were welcome to reside in the north and east if they so wished.

“All communities are welcome to settle in the Northern and Eastern Provinces. As representatives of the people of the north and east, we can say very clearly that anyone freely choosing his or her residence in the north and east is most welcome,” he has said.

Sumanthiran has also agreed with Ganeshan, saying that the Tamil parties opposed moves to change the demographic pattern.