அல் ஜசீரா தொலைக்காட்சியில் இலங்கை தேர்தல் விவகாரம் (வீடியோ)
Sri Lankans in the north vote on Saturday in provincial elections for the first time in 25 years. During the country's long civil war, the region served as the base for separatist rebels belonging to the Tamil Tigers.
The civil war between the Sinhalese majority and the Tamil minority in the northeast began in 1983, and ended only in 2009, when government soldiers recaptured areas controlled by the Tamil rebels.
Most of the fighting between government soldiers and the Tamil separatists happened in the north, but Tamil fighters also carried out suicide bombings in the capital Colombo.
The conflict has killed an estimated 100,000 people and about 250,000 Tamil refugees had to flee their homes because of the violence. A 2011 United Nations report has accused both sides in the conflict of committing war crimes against civilians.
Today, many people see elections as an opportunity for more autonomy in the north, where 90 percent of Tamils live. The poll is also considered an important test for President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
It has been a hotly contested race between the ruling coalition and the Tamil National Alliance (TNA).
But while politicians argue about reconciliation, reconstruction and who will serve the northern province best, most of its residents just want their beasic needs addressed.
A recent survey by the Centre for Policy Alternatives listed job opportunities, improving education and housing as the most important issues for people in the northern province.
For most of the country's 714,000 registered voters these will be important factors when choosing who to vote for.
But will Saturday's vote be enough to ease ethnic tensions? And is the government prepared to address the grievances of the Tamil minority?
Inside Story, with presenter Jane Dutton, discusses with guests: Rajiva Wijesinha, a member of parliament and adviser on Reconciliation to the president; Kumar Kumarendran, from the British Tamils Forum; and Alan Keenan, the Sri Lanka project director for the International Crisis Group.
| "We are hearing very worrying reports, which I believe are true, of military intimidation, physical attacks on TNA candidates, threats [and] military involvement on the side of the government alliance .... The government is throwing everything they can at this election to diminish as much as they can the TNA's vote; I don't think anyone expects the TNA not to emerge with a majority on the council." |
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