Issued for immediate release
PRESS STATEMENT
24 December 2014
Tamils should freely exercise their franchise at the upcoming Sri Lanka Presidential Election
Global Tamil Forum (GTF) strongly urges the Tamil people in Sri Lanka to use every vote carefully during the January 8 Presidential Election.
Tamil people have a long history of voting based on principled considerations. The upcoming Presidential election is no different.
GTF is fully aware that in the post-independent Sri Lanka, Tamil people have continuously lost their rights under a flawed majoritarian electoral system. Their desire to have a degree of control in the Tamil majority areas was never granted, despite repeated democratic expressions of their wishes through all available electoral means.
Nevertheless, from our perspective, whether Sri Lanka should continue in the same path or whether change should be taken at this juncture to stop and reverse this trajectory is the fundamental question facing the electorate.
Thus, GTF urges every Tamil speaking person, up and down the country, to fully participate in this decision and to vote in this Presidential election.
-ENDS-
Media Contact: Suren Surendiran
Tel: +44 (0) 7958 590196
Skype: surendirans
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Notes to Editors:
Global Tamil Forum (GTF) was established in 2009 by a number of grass-roots Tamil groups following the end of the armed conflict in Sri Lanka. It is the largest Tamil diaspora organisation with members drawn from five continents. GTF is absolutely committed to a non-violent agenda and it seeks a lasting peace in Sri Lanka, based on justice, reconciliation and a negotiated political settlement. For more information please contact and/or visit: www.globaltamilforum.org