By Mohamed Ajiwath –

Mohamed Ajiwath

Campaigns for Presidential Elections 2024 are in full swing. Manifestos of all major candidates are issued. Yet again much of the public are clueless or confused of who would be the ultimate savior of Mother Sri Lanka. The focus of this article is not necessarily about the Merits or Demerits of individual Presidential candidate, but about basic right of voting Franchise by ALL eligible / registered voters.

In this context a recent warning of Rajitha Senaratne asking expat voters needs further scrutiny. The author considers that his statement was untimely, unwarranted, completely undemocratic, and indeed violates the Election laws, for the reasons explained in this article.

One-million-dollar question to ask is weather Rajitha has the legal authority to threaten the expats? What is the basis of his alleged claim of impending disaster (solely) due to Expats voting Patterns? Why there is no adequate outcry from the public?

Rajitha’s Threatening Statement

During a recent press conference Rajitha noted that as the upcoming election approaches, some Sri Lankans living abroad may consider returning to cast their votes. However, he suggested that if these expatriates plan to support NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake they should reconsider coming back to vote, and if they do, they should stay rather than return to their overseas residences.

Ironically, his abuses were against supporters of single candidate which is yet again breaking the basics of democracy. Why segmenting or treating expats differently based on voting intentions in the PE2024?

Minimal Reactions from Stake Holders

There were limited  reactions for Rajitha’s statement. At the time of various groups are requesting Advanced Voting Rights or facility to vote from overseas or away from their registered districts,  statement of Rajitha need objection by all the rights groups irrespective of their choice of candidates. (See Expats Right To Vote – Colombo Telegraph )

Despite his verbal abuse of potential expat voters, the silence of so-called democratic forces is more than deafening. Where are the INGO’s/ Election Monitoring Forums or political commentators or analysts? Why are they keeping silent?

Thanks to the complaint filed by NPP at the Elections Commission, the  Election Commissioner statement of progress in  investigations is welcome move. However, how Election Commission or law enforcement authorities would escalate this matter remains to be seen.

Wrong Assumptions

Rajitha’s statement contained many assumptions that may not be correct. Few of them listed here:

1. The voting patterns of foreign voters are assumed to be wrong (i.e., they voted for Gotabaya in the last presidential and most likely to vote for Anura Kumara (AKD) this time).

2. Economic crisis / Fuel & Gas queues  are results of  expat voters

3. Most expats originate from western capitals.

4. Unless expats are ready to live in Sri Lanka, they should not come from overseas for voting.

5. Expats do not care of the well-being of Sri Lankan population since they run away from homeland.

All the above may be contested as wrong assumptions without valid proof.

Fact Vs Myth

The election outcome (in the absence of voting rights overseas workers in their domiciled countries) is entirely decided by Sri Lankans living in the Island. Comparatively a very small percentage of eligible voters, might choose to travel to Sri Lanka for voting purposes. This minority and limited amount voters may not influence the election outcome.

On the other hand, vast majority of migrated workers are busy with their own problems. They are helpless without any voting right unless they travel back to Sri Lanka. Some of the semi/skilled lot,  at most, becomes social media warriors in support of their chosen candidate.

Why Preference for Western Capitals?

The mistake of connecting  expats with western capital is not limited to Rajitha. The recent travel itinerary of AKD to selected western capitals is also an indication of hypocrisy on the part of NPP. Why any of their leaders not travelled to Middle East or other regions where most of the migrant workers are present? Do the selection of pre-election travel locations were linked to campaign financing? Or was it purely due to the limited  freedom to organize  political meetings in those west Asian countries?

Why not consider Expats as Assets rather than Liability?

During the economic turmoil, authorities were begging expat workers (and others of Sri Lankan) origin to remit their earnings abroad. Some called the migrant workers as “Economic Ranwiruwo.” The love of Mother country for most of the migrant workers are much higher than majority of the politicians who were perceived to be most selfish by the public.

Expats of Sri Lankan origins (including dual citizens as well as diasporas from all religions) can contribute to the economic prosperity of Sri Lanka by bringing their expertise, capitals, and facilitate FDI. For example, contribution of Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal (who happen to be an expat)  in the aftermath of economic crisis cannot be  taken lightly.

We need a mindset of perceiving  the migrant workers and other expats as assets rather than liabilities (as implicated by Rajitha). With a carefully managed programs, expats could contribute at much higher level for the national economy compared to current levels.

Way Forward

The current election format remains obsolete, costly, and discriminatory. Obsolete, since it still revolves around manual election process while most the world (including the largest democracy of India) have long ago switched to Electronic Voting system. The Election Commission appears toothless with respect to the election violence and obvious  breach of election laws by all the contestants. Discriminatory in the sense that many marginalized sectors (such as internally displaced  or migrated / disabled / prisoners) as well as migrant workers (oversees) are denied voting rights at their respective locations.

In an Briefing Paper (Sept 022) by Democracy Reporting International, Author Maral Morry analyses and elaborates how Advanced Voting Rights could be implemented in Sri Lankan context.

The Author wrote to current parliamentarians and other stakeholders on the need for expat voting rights. However, most of them did not even bother to respond to my mails. None of the current presidential candidate ( or his team) responded to mails regarding expat voting issues. This is a sad affair since none of the presidential candidates are currently keen in supporting the expat voting rights.

What we urgently needed is the political willpower of a future government along with support from all stake holders to revamp the election laws to facilitate Advance Voting rights for all eligible, marginalized and oversees migrant workers. If there is a will, there is a way!!

*Author has been a migrant worker for the last three decades and advocates for expat rights. The opinions are his personal unless quoted with references. He can be contacted through email : ajiwath@gmail.com