More than 200,000 of the Sri Lankan diaspora appears to be united in their allegiances in the upcoming UK parliamentary elections. Immigration and economic policies of the major political parties are the key areas when deciding their vote at the elections, claimed students and young Sri Lankans living in UK.
For some, though, the TV debates that resulted with the Liberal Democrats taking the lead in opinion polls seems to have energised the younger generation.
Sri Lankan students, though not permanent residents, are temporarily allowed to vote in UK as citizens of the Commonwealth.
Although the Labour government is seen as supportive of immigrants, for students in particular, all might not be that rosy for the immigrants if the Conservative party comes to power, according to Sri Lankan student Akila Nadeera Perera.
Mohamed Rilvan Mohamed Nisar, another student at a London higher education college, agrees.
Immigration policy
“As a result of the recession, it is already very difficult to find a part time job to cover my expenses. But I think under a Conservative government things would be worse,” he told BBC Sandeshaya.
Majority of the students and other young people Sandeshaya spoke to were of a similar opinion.
But Lakshman Wanigasuriya, the president of the Conservative branch in Totteridge in High Wycombeconstituency, disagrees.
“Under the Labour government, the immigration policy has constantly been changing,” he said.
“Students who come to UK for one category, for example, are later confused as to which category they belong after sudden changes,” Mr. Wanigasuriya said adding that under a Conservative government there would be a consistent policy.
“Every tax paying legal immigrant is of the opinion that this immigration policy needs to be changed.”
For Dhanushka Perera, a recent graduate currently working in the IT industry, it is the overall performance of the government, not only immigration that matters.
“I think Gordon Brown is very serious when he talks about policies than David Cameron,” he said.
Shiyamala Selvaratnam, a young web designer grown up in London, regards herself as a Londoner as well as an immigrant.
TV debate
She said herself, as well as many among the younger generation, were influenced by the confident performance at the TV debates by Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg.
“I think immigration issue is important but at the same time it is important to empower the younger generation,” she told BBCSinhala.com.
Riza Jazeel, Chairman of SL2G, a group of first and second generation Sri Lankan young people, is of the opinion that the main reason for Mr. Cleggs sudden popularity is the public’s dissatisfaction with the policies and manifestos of Labour and the Conservatives.
“Sadly it’s more of a negative criticism of the other two parties than a positive statement about the Liberal Democrats. It’s an interesting phenomenon to see that the TV debates have had a massive effect on general opinion and decision making. Whether that’s a good or a bad thing remains to be seen,” he said.
But for some recently arrived students, survival under a recession is the main issue.
Chanuka Dilshan Perera, a student who has been in UK for more than two years is of the opinion that it is also important to focus on economic policies.
“Many students cannot survive with what they get from Sri Lankaso they must have a part time job. It is already difficult but if the government changes things would be more difficult.”
Agreeing, Lakshman Wanigasuriya says it is only Conservatives who could take the UK out of the recession.
War crimes
“I think Conservative party is the single party that has proposed policies to improve the economy as well as other social factors in UK,” he said.
Dharanga Rathnayake, an IT student in UK, is of the opinion that economic policies proposed by the Conservative party might result with further job cuts.
“That will badly affect us when we join the job market after completing the course,” he said.
Meanwhile, Riza Jazeel, who regards himself as British and Sri Lankan, says the main issues in deciding his vote are the economy and the impact on his business.
“I’m considering the way in which I think the UK will behave as an international citizen, but in terms of Sri Lanka, there’s a growing unhappiness with the behaviour of the west, or any country really, when it criticises or disagrees with Sri Lanka,” he told BBC Sinhala service.
But that is exactly what Sivendran Nadarajah, a young Tamil student in London expects from the next government in UK.
“I think the British government that sold weapons to Sri Lankan government in the height of the war, has got the responsibility taking up the war crimes issue forward,” he said.
The British government should also take the historical responsibility of “creating a mess” in colonial times and putting the country back to normalcy, he says.
“We would like the British government, whatever party it is, to put the pressure on the UN and also the Commonwealth to do something about the plight of the Tamils in Sri Lanka,” he added.
BBC
