Vijitha Herath, member of the National People’s Power (NPP), has voiced serious concerns over what he describes as a deliberate bureaucratic obstruction preventing Sri Lankan expatriate workers from voting in the upcoming presidential election. Speaking at a press conference in Colombo, Herath highlighted the plight of thousands of Sri Lankan citizens living abroad who wish to return home to exercise their democratic right but are being hampered by passport and visa complications.
According to Herath, many expatriates face difficulties in renewing expired passports, with delays in processing at Sri Lankan embassies. Additionally, obtaining visas for travel has become an equally frustrating hurdle. Herath questioned the reasons behind this apparent inefficiency, speculating whether the government had intentionally failed to address the escalating passport and visa crisis, potentially to reduce voter turnout from overseas workers.
He noted that Sri Lanka has a large expatriate population, particularly in countries like the Middle East, where many workers had expressed their desire to return to Sri Lanka to vote. However, these logistical barriers, compounded by the current crisis, seem to be preventing them from participating in the electoral process.
Herath called on the government to resolve these issues urgently and ensure that all eligible citizens have the opportunity to cast their votes, irrespective of where they are residing. He further accused the authorities of showing a lack of commitment to ensuring a free and fair election, stating that the current visa and passport obstacles are “suspiciously convenient” in light of the upcoming vote.
He also said that SL cops overlook Sinhalese when they do traffic offenses, while punishing minorities.
So in conclusion, whatever he says has no credibility.