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

Asked whether ITAK has been weakened as a result, Mr Sumanthiran said: “No, in fact I think we have strengthened our position. We are now a more decisive force. There is clarity and coherence on how we will work with the people and assert our demands, rather than a 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 responsibility for alleged war crimes and the elusive political solution. Moreover, the region is yet to see a meaningful economic revival where the youth have decent livelihoods or jobs to channel their skills. The region is still highly militarized and locals are protesting against land grabbing by government agencies, including the archaeological and forest departments. More recently, they are also confronted with a fragmented Tamil polity. There are 28 seats up for grabs in the five constituencies in the northern and eastern provinces. According to the election commission, there are more than 2,000 candidates for these seats. All the contenders are campaigning hard to court disillusioned voters longing for a change in their lives. Many voters argue that if the national leadership has repeatedly failed the Tamils, then the Tamil administration has not been focused and successful enough in carrying on their struggle.

On what Tamil voters, especially youth, are demanding, the former MP said Tamil youth are looking for economic advancement through good jobs in the war-hit region, where unemployment is high. “They hope that our local economy will flourish and give them hope and reason to stay and work here, rather than migrate elsewhere,” he said. After Sri Lanka’s economy crashed in 2022, young people across the country desperately tried to leave the country in search of better-paid work abroad. The pressure is even greater in regions that have suffered abject poverty and deprivation, in the hill country of the island’s central and southern provinces, and in the war-ravaged north and east, where residents are seeking development in line with their specific needs after the setback of the crisis. a war lasting three decades.

Yet the youth demanding jobs and economic empowerment have not given up on Tamils’ continued demand for a political solution. “They also assert the fundamental claim of our nation as a distinct people,” Mr. Sumanthiran underlined. “The demand is not either (development) or (political rights),” he said, stressing that the two are inseparable.

Democratic rule, he said, invariably translates into the “rule of the majority,” referring to the Sinhalese who form the numerical majority on the island. “The challenge has always been to convince the majority community that granting equal rights to a numerical minority community does not take away their rights.” Noting that Tamil leaders had “not done this in the past”, Mr Sumanthiran said ITAK had now “reformed” the list of candidates to address this challenge.

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

In September’s presidential elections, ITAK backed Mr Dissanayake’s main rival, then opposition leader Sajith Premadasa. However, some members, including Mr. Sumanthiran, have openly expressed willingness to work with President Dissanayake on issues such as eradicating corruption. Although the government has not yet clearly formulated its specific proposal for transfer of power, the NPP manifesto pledged to continue the drafting process of a new constitution, which began in 2015. “That would be a very welcome move because it provides a sound framework for a political solution,” Mr Sumanthiran said.