Six Sri Lankan Minority Parties Form Unified Political Front

Six political parties representing Sri Lanka's Tamil and Muslim minorities formed a unified political front on July 13, 2026, to advocate for greater regional autonomy and minority rights. The alliance—comprising the All Ceylon Makkal Congress, Ceylon Workers’ Congress, Democratic Tamil National Alliance, Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi, Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, and Tamil Progressive Alliance—is pressing the government of Anura Kumara Dissanayake to fulfill election manifesto promises regarding the devolution of power.

During a meeting and media briefing in Colombo, the coalition demanded the immediate conduct of Provincial Council elections, which have been delayed for over a decade. Leaders argued that the absence of elected provincial bodies undermines democratic principles and post-war reconciliation. The alliance is seeking a new constitution that grants greater control over police and land powers at the provincial level and requires the return of privately owned land currently occupied by security forces in former war zones.

While the group supports Sri Lankan sovereignty and opposes ethnic separation, representatives emphasized that meaningful devolution is necessary to protect the cultural and economic rights of communities in the Northern and Eastern provinces. Alliance members called on the National People’s Power government to deliver on its pledge to hold polls within one year of taking office and to engage in dialogue to address minority concerns.