Ravi Karunanayake moves to bar political parties from ethnic or religious labels

Opposition MP Ravi Karunanayake has submitted a private member’s motion in Parliament seeking to prohibit the naming of political parties on the basis of ethnicity or religion. The proposal is listed on the parliamentary agenda for Friday, October 10, when eight private members’ motions are scheduled for debate. According to the Parliament’s Order Paper, Karunanayake’s motion aims to prevent political parties from adopting names that emphasize ethnic or religious identities. Supporters of the move argue it would encourage a more inclusive national identity in politics and reduce communal polarization. The motion is among several private members’ proposals set for debate,…

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