Ilankai Thamil Arasu Katchchi (ITAK), the oldest Tamil political party in Sri Lanka, has decided to back Sajith Premadasa while some of their members have openly backed the Tamil common Presidential Candidate, P. Aiyanethiran, in the upcoming election. The ITAK has given a deadline to Ariyanethiran to withdraw from the race as he is a member of the ITAK Central Committee.
The ITAK has clarified that its primary reason for supporting Sajith Premadasa is their concern over Ranil Wickremesinghe’s association and accepting individuals such as Karuna, Pillaiyan, Viyalendran, and Douglas Devananda, who, according to ITAK, have acted against the Tamil population in both deeds and thoughts.
Despite being a Central Committee and ITAK President, Mavai Senathirajah, has also rendered his support to the Tamil common candidate and allegedly has refrained from endorsing Sajith Premadasa at the last minute, citing health reasons, a member of the ITAK told Ceylon Today. Later yesterday (2) Senathirajah had expressed that he is also backing Premadasa when he was questioned about his action. He was not available for a further comment.
Meanwhile, it has been revealed that many ITAK members personally support the common candidate, Ariyanethiran and there is speculation that he may secure over 100,000 votes.
The ITAK’s decision to back Sajith Premadasa stems from their belief that the National People’s Power (NPP) has had a long-standing hostile relationship with the Tamils. However, the Sajith Premadasa faction has emerged as a favourite among Tamil voters, marking a significant shift from their usual support for Premadasa and President Ranil Wickremesinghe, according to the member.
In the meantime, MP S. Sritharan has travelled to the United Kingdom to raise funds for Ariyanethiran, who hails from the Eastern Province.
During a meeting in London, Sritharan urged Tamils to vote for the common candidate.
“We are at a key juncture in our history,” Sritharan stated during his speech in London this week, as the Sri Lankan Presidential Elections approach. “General Elections are now key events for Tamil people. The election battlegrounds have become opportunities for our people to show that we are still here… Each election is a battleground,” a leading Tamil website quoted.
Sritharan has said: “It is from those Eastern homelands we are seeing this common candidate. So, what is our message to the spirits of the fallen?” “What are we going to say to those mothers of the disappeared?” the parliamentarian continued.
“We can’t take up arms again. How many of us know how to fire a gun! How many of us know how to make a bomb, to fire an artillery! Yet, in these 15 years not one of us have thought about taking up a gun, a bomb or firing a shell.”
“Over the 15 years we have shown to the world we are a peace-loving people. But, neither the world nor Sri Lanka are ready to give us a just political solution. They are asking us for goodwill.