Please Give Us Voting Rights!

MAHINDA Karunaratne Sri Lankan in Overseas

There is a very important issue that has not been looked at any one so far even though that the election is utmost important from the point of view of the Country, Nation and it's Economy.

01. There are over millions expat workers in vide variety of jobs, from Laborers to Scientists and majority of whom are in Middle-East and they are the ones who repatriate entire income to Sri Lanka or their NRFC accounts, as they all are one day going back to Sri Lanka for good.

02. The other category is that those who are working in Europe, USA, Australia on temporary ground and also sending their earnings to Sri Lanka or NRFC Accounts with the hope of re settling in Sri Lanka

03. The Third is the sector that is staying in Europe, USA and Australia with the hope of obtaining citizenship etc. and is not pertinent to our subject.

Above 01 and 02 categories are very important and as we know our expatriate workers earn over 50 % of the foreign currency in our economy which is almost in line with the next biggest foreign currency earner the Garment Industry. So these people do have a Ethical and Leagal right to take part in decision making of their beloved country.

Now, has any one over the last decade or two ever tried to allow these most important Sri Lankans away from the country to take part in Sri Lankan elections?

When I was working in Middle-East, I remember the Phillipinos were given that opportunity through their embassies and affiliate offices in every city. The Indians, Nepalis, Thais too had same privileged.

Every body capitalizes on Foreign earnings, from paying our bills to import of all Luxury goods to Rich Influential class in the Sri Lanka all dependent on these workers sending money. Not a single Rich class is contributing to that effect by earning foreign currency, while shopping in High class shopping in Colombo for their Hams, Butter, Whisky and get about in their BMW's and MERCEDES etc. and travel and shop in Paris, London so on and yet they are available with no restriction while the poor Banda, Silva and Sumanawathie, Margaret etc. are facing immense hardships to bring that money to the country for the luxury life of handful of people and families in Sri Lanka.

But when they come back from overseas they have to go through a series of hardships at Customs to clear their luggage and Sea / Air parcels while at the same time influential high class is always passing through Green channel at the Airport with no customs check at most of the times which the writer has eye witnessed When they go for clearing their sea cargo, they have to pay through their nose to various people, some times women have to spend time with various people related to clearing process. Isn't' this a shame?

Now, at least whoever come to the power after 02nd April, 2004 would you please make arrangements for those important and underprivileged yet, most important foreign currency earners the VOTING RIGHTS while they are in the country of Work?

There is nothing the Sri Lankan embassies overseas does other than wasting public money, so not they be asked to track all Sri Lankans and register them in a data base and then coordinate with the elections dept. during elections, so that the election dept. can make arrangements to allow them to VOTE to raise their voice too. Do not deny their right to decide the politics in their own country which depends of their hard earned foreign currency.

Forgotten Clock!
The Clocks were turned ahead about 05 years ago, and we are still thirty minutes ahead of standard time and it looks like this has been almost forgotten besides other major issues.

Her Excellency President Madam Chandrkia Banadaranaike Kumarathunga, would you please turn the Clock back by thirty minutes as others still have the same time. We cannot go ahead or catch up others by merely turning Clocks!

Thank you
Mahinda Karunaratne