Change in SL guard fails to inspire confidence in refugees to return

ALTHOUGH Anura Kumara Dissanayake's alliance has seemingly won the confidence of the Tamils in Sri Lanka, scoring a landslide victory in the recent parliamentary polls, it has failed to evoke hopes of a brighter future in the Sri Lankan Tamil refugees in TN.

- HARINI M

The island nation's majoritarianism, chaotic political landscape and the economic crisis, continue to create fear and uncertainty among the refugees, preventing their return.

Dissanayake's National People's Power (NPP) party, a Sinhalese-majority coalition, made history by winning 159 of 225 seats, including districts dominated by Tamils, securing over a two-thirds majority.

In the lead up to the polls, during a rally in Jaffna, the new Lankan President also made a significant promise, to take steps towards returning land occupied by the Sri Lankan government, especially the military, back to Tamil owners.

The guarantee has struck a chord with the Tamils of the region.