Non-representation of Muslims in the Cabinet

The National People’s Power (NPP) came to power with a pledge to bring about drastic changes to the way the country is governed, providing a break from the 76-year-old, business as usual in the past. True to their word, they have already introduced one colossal change by not appointing a Muslim representative to the Cabinet of Ministers for the first time since gaining independence in 1948. The top Government decision-making body also does not include a Tamil MP representing the north and east of the country. 

Prominent Muslim political commentators have expressed their disappointment over the surprising snub to their community while the ordinary citizens of the Islamic faith must be feeling that they were let down by the new political alliance which offered them so much of hope and optimism. Ironically, even the Gotabaya Rajapaksa-led SLPP Government, which was blatantly anti-Muslim in its outlook, had two representatives from the minority ethnic group in its Cabinet – the prominent lawyer M.U.M. Ali Sabry and Naseer Ahmed who eventually lost his parliamentary seat as he was expelled by the SLMC.

The unexpected rebuff would be a bitter pill to swallow for the members of the community, as Muslims in the island faced systemic discrimination and harassment from the State-sponsored extremist groups apart from having been penalised from policy actions that caused emotional pain in the contemporary history. Consequent to the Easter Sunday attack, the Tamil-speaking citizens had to endure violence and humiliation, as the entire ethnicity were perceived as culprits for the crime that was committed by a few. Muslim-owned businesses in retail trade experienced a substantial decline in their business volumes as Sinhalese were encouraged to refrain from purchasing goods and services from such business establishments by groups with vested interests.

The agony of Muslims got further aggravated during the calamitous presidency of Gotabaya Rajapaksa when his administration illogically ordered to cremate the fatalities of the COVID-19 pandemic. The draconian regulation undermined the core of Muslims’ self-dignity and effectively treated them like second-class citizens. The pain and grief felt by the minority community who had to witness the dead bodies of their loved ones – in some instances, infants as young as just two months – being burnt contrary to their wishes was unfortunately not understood by the majority ethnic group.

In response to the criticism over the non-presence of Muslims in the Cabinet, the Government claimed that the composition of the Cabinet of Ministers was determined by meritocracy. However, every government in the world, particularly in developed democracies, strive hard to make their top, executive decision-making bodies as inclusive and representative as possible in terms of gender and ethnicity. Voters too would have expected the same from the NPP Government due to the idealistic fervour of its propaganda in the run up to the two national elections.  There are several Muslim MPs among the NPP and aren’t any of them worthy enough to be in the Cabinet? Numerous Muslim citizens hold prominent positions within the fields of law, public administration, medicine, business, and media in the island. A fair share of Muslims contributed towards the victory of President Dissanayake at the September poll and the NPP’s vote share of Muslims increased tremendously at the General Election compared to the Presidential Election. Such considerable Muslim votes enabled them to win seats like Colombo-Central and Colombo-North, which are considered as UNP strongholds, at the Parliamentary poll. 

Colombo District NPP MP Dr. Rizvie Salih – an experienced, reputed medical practitioner – could have easily found a place in the Cabinet, which includes a number of individuals who have been involved in full-time politics and lack practical experience.

Sri Lanka as a State has failed to build an inclusive society in which people from diverse backgrounds coexist with each other unlike nations like Singapore that have thrived on the foundations of diversity and pluralism. A Government which was elected on a platform of systemic change should have done better.