Sri Lankan Muslims Express Discontent Over Lack of Cabinet Representation in NPP Government

Colombo, November 20 (Daily Mirror) – The Sri Lankan Muslim community has voiced dissatisfaction over the absence of Muslim representation in the newly formed Cabinet, despite 70% of their votes reportedly supporting the National People's Power (NPP) government. Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Kandy District candidate Rishad Mahroof raised the issue during a media briefing at the SLPP office in Colombo.

Mahroof highlighted that this is the first instance since Sri Lanka's independence that a Cabinet has been formed without any Muslim members. He also accused the NPP of breaking its election promise to include representatives from Muslim and Tamil communities.

"During the election, the NPP acknowledged the significant role of Muslim voters in its victory. It is deeply concerning and raises questions about the agenda behind excluding Muslims from the Cabinet," Mahroof said.

He further noted that, under Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s administration in 2019, Ali Sabry served as a Cabinet Minister representing the Muslim community. While the current Parliament includes Tamil representatives and even Sri Lanka’s first vision-impaired MP, Muslim leaders have been excluded from ministerial positions.

The issue has sparked criticism and concerns within the Muslim community, as they call for greater inclusivity in the nation’s governance.