If the Tamil common candidate had adopted a slogan such as “Tamils need self-determination; use the referendum to understand what Tamils want,” they would likely have garnered more support than they ultimately received.
Tamil Diaspora News conducted a pre-election poll that proved to be more accurate than other polls in Sri Lanka. We want to extend our heartfelt congratulations to our dedicated team of poll opinion collectors for their outstanding efforts.
The pollsters provided the following analysis regarding the presidential election:
Only the most courageous Tamils voted for the common Tamil candidates. Many others were fearful, believing that the occupying military forces might retaliate if they did not vote for Sinhalese candidates. Additionally, some Tamils chose not to support the Tamil candidate due to concerns raised by Sumanthiran and Sajith Premadasa’s speeches, which revived anxieties about ethnic tensions and memories of the 1983 riots.
While neither Ranil nor Anura offered political solutions, Sajith Premadasa promised to fully implement the 13th Amendment, appealing to the Tamil community’s desire for a political solution. This is why he garnered the majority of Tamil votes, as he was the only candidate to address these concerns during the election.
The common Tamil candidate, however, failed to present a strong, unified message. Instead, they offered three different proposals, including one based on a South American model focused on local hunters and another suggesting constitutional amendments within Sri Lanka. Unfortunately, the lack of clarity in their vision made it difficult for them to attract widespread support. The Tamil community seeks self-determination to protect itself from the threat of Sinhala-led genocide, but this message was not clearly articulated.
Those backing the Tamil common candidate, along with their primary supporters, appeared to lack a deep understanding of Tamil nationalism. Figures like Tamil Arsau and Gajan Ponnambalam did not lend their support to the Tamil candidates, further dividing the community. The need for a unified Tamil voice, particularly during elections, is crucial—much like the 1977 elections when the Tamil people won a decisive victory in the north-east.
Warnings were issued about the unreliability of individuals like Nilanthan and Yaseethra, whose positions seemed to shift depending on their personal interests.
If the Tamil common candidate had adopted a slogan such as “Tamils need self-determination; use the referendum to understand what Tamils want,” they would likely have garnered more support than they ultimately received.
Thank you,
Tamil Diaspora News
September 29, 2024
