September 17, Colombo (LNW): Mavai Senathirajah, the leader of the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK), has officially endorsed Sajith Premadasa of the Samagi Jana Balavegaya in the forthcoming presidential election.
This announcement comes as a surprise turn of events given the ITAK leader’s earlier stance on the matter and was made public earlier yesterday (16), signalling ITAK’s position in the political landscape ahead of the vote.
Interestingly, within hours of this declaration, Senathirajah also made an appearance at a public meeting in Kilinochchi, an event organised to show support for the Tamil Common Candidate, P. Arianethran.
This dual engagement underscores the complex dynamics within the Tamil political community, which continues to navigate its alliances amid the election season.
The ITAK’s six-member committee, responsible for scrutinising the election manifestos of various candidates, had convened in Vavuniya the previous day. The meeting, chaired by Senathirajah, included several prominent members of the party, such as Parliamentarians S. Sreedharan, President’s Counsel MA Sumanthiran, Party General Secretary P. Sathyalingam, Senior Deputy Leader CVK Sivagnanam, and former Batticaloa Mayor, Thyagaraja Saravanabavan.
During this session, Senathirajah reiterated the party’s central committee decision to support Premadasa, urging the electorate to unite behind him in the election slated for September 21.
He emphasised the importance of solidarity amongst voters to tackle the critical challenges facing the Tamil community, highlighting this endorsement as a strategic move to address these pressing issues.
Despite his clear support for Premadasa, Senathirajah’s presence at the Kilinochchi gathering suggested a nuanced stance. He articulated his commitment to the broader ideals of unity and self-determination.
“Regardless of the decisions we have made, risking our lives for our freedom, I felt it was essential to attend this public meeting and work collaboratively for the freedom I spoke of,” Senathirajah remarked, reflecting his enduring dedication to Tamil unity.
