Regardless of changes in national politics, Tamils ​​need strong representation in Parliament: Sumanthiran

Asked if this weakened ITAK, Mr Sumanthiran said: “No, I actually think we have strengthened our position. We are now a more decisive force. There is clarity and coherence about how we will work with the people and achieve our demands, rather than having confused leadership and voters pulling in different directions.”

Concerns of Tamils

Fifteen years after the end of Sri Lanka’s civil war, Tamils ​​continue to demand accountability for alleged war crimes and the elusive political solution. Furthermore, the region is yet to experience a significant economic boom where youth have decent livelihoods or jobs to utilize their skills. The region is still heavily militarized and locals protest against land grabs by state authorities, including the archeology and forestry departments. More recently, they have also faced a fragmented Tamil polity. There are 28 seats up for grabs in the five electoral districts of the Northern and Eastern Provinces. According to the Electoral Commission, over 2,000 people are running for these seats. All candidates are campaigning hard to woo disillusioned voters yearning for a change in their lives. Many voters claim that the Tamil government has not pursued its struggle with sufficient determination and success, even though the national leadership has repeatedly failed the Tamils.

On the demands of the Tamil voters, especially the youth, the former MP said that the Tamil youth in the war-affected region where unemployment was high were looking for economic progress through good jobs. “They hope our local economy thrives and gives them hope and a reason to stay and work here instead of moving elsewhere,” he said. Following the collapse of Sri Lanka’s economy in 2022, young people across the country are desperately trying to leave the country to look for better paying work abroad. The pressure is even greater in regions that have suffered from abject poverty and deprivation, in the mountainous areas of the island’s central and southern provinces and in the war-torn north and east, where residents are seeking development that meets their specific needs in the wake of the setback a war that lasted three decades.

However, the youth demanding jobs and economic empowerment have not given up on the Tamils’ ongoing demands for a political solution. “They also assert the fundamental claim of our nation as a separate people,” Mr. Sumanthiran stressed. “The demand is not an either [development]or [political rights]”, he said, emphasizing that the two are inextricably linked.

Democratic governance, he said, always meant “rule by the majority,” referring to the Sinhalese, who constituted the numerical majority on the island. “The challenge has always been to convince the majority community that granting equal rights to a numerically minority community does not deprive them of their rights.” Noting that the Tamil leadership “has failed to do so in the past,” Mr. Sumanthiran said the ITAK has now “redesigned” its list of candidates to meet this challenge.

On the performance of President Dissanayake’s National People’s Power [NPP] Mr Sumanthiran said so far: “It has been a mixed bag. The government has made some very good appointments, including the Governor of Northern Province. However, they appear to be going back on some of their key promises, such as repealing the Terrorism Prevention Act, which is very disappointing.”

In September’s presidential election, ITAK supported Mr Dissanayake’s main rival, then opposition leader Sajith Premadasa. However, some of its members, including Mr. Sumanthiran, have openly expressed their willingness to work with President Dissanayake on issues such as eradicating corruption. Although the government has not yet clearly stated its specific proposal for transfer of power, the NPP manifesto committed to advancing the drafting process of a new constitution that began in 2015. “That would be a very welcome step because this draft has a…” “A solid framework for a political solution,” Mr Sumanthiran said.