The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) held a press conference yesterday to voice concerns about the absence of Muslim representation in the newly appointed cabinet of the National People’s Power (NPP) government. Kandy District candidate Rishad Maharoof and Colombo District candidate Mohammad Anas, who addressed the media, expressed disappointment over what they called a historic oversight.
Rishad Maharoof highlighted that more than 70% of Sri Lanka’s Muslim community voted in favor of the NPP during the recent election. Despite this strong support, he lamented that no Muslim minister was included in the cabinet, marking the first time since 1948 that such an exclusion has occurred. Maharoof compared this situation to the 2019 government of Gotabaya Rajapaksa, which included Ali Sabry as a cabinet minister despite relying primarily on Sinhala-majority votes.
He also raised concerns over the inclusivity of the new cabinet, noting that while representatives from various sectors, including Tamil leaders and even a visually impaired individual, were given ministerial positions, Muslims were entirely overlooked. Maharoof questioned whether this exclusion was deliberate and emphasized the need for clarification from the leadership.
Adding to these concerns, Colombo District candidate Mohammad Anas pointed out that prominent Muslim figures like Ali Sabry and Fawzi held ministerial roles in previous administrations, and their absence in this cabinet was deeply troubling. Anas accused the government of failing to honor the support it received from the Muslim community, calling for President Anura Dissanayake to provide an explanation.
The candidates stressed that the Muslim community’s contributions to the election victory deserved recognition through cabinet representation. They urged the government to address the issue transparently and ensure the inclusivity it promised during the campaign.
This development has sparked wider debates about inclusivity and representation in Sri Lanka’s politics, with many questioning the NPP’s commitment to honoring the diversity of its voter base.
