Whither north and east Tamil political parties in Sri Lanka’s general election?

In a bid to provide opportunities for the younger generation, three representatives from the Northern Province have announced that they will not contest in the upcoming general elections. Meanwhile, several Tamil parties in the North have decided to contest the elections independently. In the Trincomalee and Ampara districts, efforts are underway to form alliances with Tamil parties to strengthen the representation of the Tamil community.
Nominations for the parliamentary election scheduled for November 14th will be accepted for one week, starting today (4th).

However, following the dissolution of parliament shortly after the new president assumed office, negotiations for vote-sharing, individual contests, and coalition-building are taking place not only in the South but also in the North and East.

Douglas Devananda, leader of the Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP) who had earlier served as a minister in the government alongside the current president under President Chandrika Bandaranaike has already announced his eagerness to join a future National People's Power government.

Douglas Devananda, leader of the Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP), has already announced his eagerness to join a future National People's Power (NPP) government.

He had earlier served as a minister alongside president Anura Kumara Dissanayake under President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge.

Vino Noharathalingam, former member of Parliament for the Vanni district representing the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK), announced on October 1st that he would not contest the general election to make way for youth.

“During the last presidential election, the people of southern Sri Lanka, particularly the majority Sinhalese, expressed a strong desire for political change, which led to Anura Kumara Dissanayake to the President’s office. Similarly, the Tamil community in the North is also seeking change. This is why I have made this decision,"
Charles Nirmalanathan, a former Member of Parliament for the Vanni District representing the ITAK, took to Facebook announcing that he will not contest the upcoming general elections.

"I want to inform all Tamil people that I will not contest the upcoming parliamentary elections to give newcomers a chance," announced CV Vigneswaran, the leader of the Tamil People's National Alliance (TPNA) and a former Member of Parliament. He clarified that he does not intend to retire from politics although he will not be contesting the general elections. "The aim of the Tamil People's National Alliance is to protect the Tamil nation from decline and to secure the rights of the Tamil people. I will continue that mission," he added.

A meeting held in Jaffna on September 26 to discuss the general elections involved representatives from seven Tamil political parties and 87 Tamil civil organizations. These groups backed Pakiyaselvam Ariyanethran in the presidential elections. However, the meeting ended without resolution, as no agreement was reached on the election symbol. Although a committee within the Tamil National Common Structure suggested contesting under the conch symbol, which presidential candidate Pakiyaselvam Ariyanethran used in the presidential election, another committee from the same group disagreed with this symbol.

According to local journalists, the Democratic Tamil National Alliance (DTNA), comprising five political parties—the Crusaders for Democracy Party, the Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front, the People’s Liberation Organization of Tamil Eelam, the Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization, and the Tamil National Party—has proposed to contest under the standing lamp (Kuthuvilakku) symbol. Following this discussion, CV Vigneswaran, the leader of the Tamil People's National Alliance and a former Member of Parliament (a party not affiliated with the Democratic Tamil National Alliance), announced that his party has decided to contest the election independently.

Meanwhile, Suresh Premachandran, media spokesperson for the DTNA, comprising five political parties announced in Jaffna on October 3 that the Election commission has allocated the conch symbol to their group.

Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam, leader of the Tamil National People's Front and a former Member of Parliament, announced at a media conference held at the party's office in Jaffna on October 1 that he will contest the general elections on behalf of his party in the Northern and Eastern Provinces under the bicycle symbol.

UK based businessman Alliraja Subhaskaran, who owns a media network in Sri Lanka, met with several former representatives of the Tamil community in Colombo last week to discuss the upcoming general election, according to a Tamil newspaper published in Colombo. The 'Tamilan' newspaper reported that former Members of Parliament Sivagnanam Shritharan, Suresh Premachandran, and Selvam Adaikkalanathan, along with former Jaffna Municipal Council Mayor Viswalingam Manivannan, were present at this discussion. Additionally, it is expected that TELO leader Selvam Adaikkalanathan may be appointed as the president of a new alliance to be formed under the leadership of Alliraja Subhaskaran.

Following this discussion, former Member of Parliament Sivagnanam Shritharan met with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on October 1st. Although the President described the meeting as friendly, a media statement issued by Shritharan indicated that he urged the President, who has a background in armed uprising, to be mindful of the basic rights of the Tamil people, including their sovereignty.

Speaking to local media in Tellippalai, Jaffna, Tamil Paramilitary Group Leader and former Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda cited his experience in handling arms as a qualification for supporting a future government under the new President.

"After the election and that victory, we will discuss with those in power. As you know, it was through armed struggle that they transitioned to a democratic path in the national stream and took over the government. Similarly, we were once involved in armed struggle. In terms of policy, there is no difference between them and us; both come from a leftist tradition. The EPDP also emerged from a leftist background, which fosters an understanding between us. After the upcoming parliamentary elections and the victory of the EPDP's veena symbol, I am confident this will be fulfilled," he added.

Former Member of Parliament for the Jaffna electoral district, M.A. Sumanthiran held a press conference in Mannar on September 30, inviting all parties that previously represented the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) to contest under the ITAK in the upcoming general election. He further stated that the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi will go ahead, regardless of whether the invitation is accepted.

PLOTE leader and former Member of Parliament Dharmalingam Siddarthan, who rejected the invitation, declared that Sumanthiran's claim was an attempt to showcase the past glory of the TNA.

Former MP Nallathambi Srikanta, the leader of the Tamil National Party, which is not a member of the Tamil National Alliance, has also rejected Sumanthiran's invitation.

Later, M. A. Sumanthiran announced at a press conference in Colombo on October 2 that the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi will be contesting in both the Northern and Eastern Provinces under the home symbol. He also mentioned that he will discuss with other Tamil parties to reach an agreement on retaining the representation of the Tamil people in the Trincomalee and Ampara districts.

"To retain the representation of the Tamil people, everyone should unite and come forward to compete as a team," said Selvam Adaikkalanathan, the leader of the Tamil Eelam Liberation Organisation and former Member of Parliament, during a media briefing in Trincomalee on October 2.