Call
to grant civic rights to recent Indian origin workers
By Shelani Perera
The Ceylon Workers Congress is to call for a special amendment to
the Citizenship Bill, enabling persons of Indian origin to be represented
in local bodies. The appeal was made after it was found that some
300,000 persons of Indian origin who gained citizenship would not
be eligible to vote at the forthcoming provincial council elections
as they have not been registered in the 2002 voter register.
The
CWC made representations to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe
stating that under the 13th Amendment 40,000 persons are entitled
to be represented by one member in a local body.
CWC
Parliamentarian S Yogaraja told The Sunday Times that it is important
that people of Indian origin be given their right and added the
party will be doing everything possible for them. ‘ We are
keen that these people are given voting rights without delay as
they are citizens and have all the right to vote. I met the Prime
Minister in this regard who agreed that the people should be given
voting rights. Amendments will be made to the 1989 Act pertaining
to Registration of Electors’ he said.
Under
this Act persons who qualified for Sri Lankan citizenship included
any person of Indian origin who had been a permanent resident of
the country since October 30, 1964 or is a descendant, resident
in Sri Lanka of a person who has been a permanent resident of Sri
Lanka since the said date.
Mr.
Yogaraja added that the amendment will be brought in as soon as
possible in a bid to allow the persons to be registered in the 2003
voter register. |