ITAK political move involving former LTTE members comes as Vijay’s rise in Tamil Nadu adds fresh pressure over Provincial Council polls.
The ITAK political move involving rehabilitated former LTTE members has drawn fresh attention as actor-turned-politician Vijay makes a major entry into Tamil Nadu politics.
This week’s Rajya Rahas column reveals that the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi, also known as Tamil Arasu Kachchi, is carrying out a new political operation in Sri Lanka’s Northern and Eastern provinces, where the party remains the main Tamil political force.
At the last presidential election and the general election, a significant share of Tamil and Muslim votes from the North and East moved toward the National People’s Power government led by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
That shift was largely linked to several promises made by Dissanayake during a visit to Jaffna. These included introducing a new constitution, resolving issues faced by Tamil people in the North and East, repealing the Prevention of Terrorism Act, holding Provincial Council elections, and abolishing the Executive Presidency.
However, one and a half years later, the President-led government has still not fulfilled any of these key promises. As a result, questions are now being raised over whether Tamil and Muslim voters in the North and East will continue to support the government.
Against this political backdrop, the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi has quietly launched a major new initiative. The party has begun a programme aimed at bringing rehabilitated former Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam members and their families into democratic politics in the North and East.
The initiative has reportedly received strong support from several influential Tamil diaspora groups. According to reports, there are around 12,000 rehabilitated former LTTE members.
As part of this effort, M. A. Sumanthiran, General Secretary of the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi, recently moved to hold the first meeting with these rehabilitated former LTTE members in Mannar. A second meeting was later held in Vavuniya.
A notable number of people reportedly attended both meetings, giving the party’s new political project greater significance.
Through this programme, the party is now preparing to build a new political movement in the North and East. Many believe the effort may also receive support from India.
Attention is now turning to what kind of relationship could develop in the future between this emerging political movement from Northern Sri Lanka and Vijay’s new political force in Tamil Nadu.
Why is the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi trying to unite former LTTE families and launch a new political movement?
Many observers believe the party is preparing for a major political campaign in the coming months. That campaign is expected to demand the holding of Provincial Council elections and renewed action on the unresolved issues faced by people in the North and East.
Many also believe Vijay’s rise in Tamil Nadu politics has given fresh momentum to this effort, particularly at a time when Tamil political sentiment is again drawing wider regional attention.
According to several political analysts, any further delay in holding Provincial Council elections could become a serious challenge for the government.
The Election Commission of Sri Lanka has already sent several letters to the government urging it to conduct Provincial Council elections as soon as possible.
Former Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya also made a special statement last week, saying the government should proceed with Provincial Council elections either under the existing system or under a new system.
Meanwhile, PAFFREL issued a statement on Thursday stressing that the government must immediately conduct Provincial Council elections.
These developments suggest that pressure is building rapidly, creating a situation where the government may no longer be able to delay Provincial Council elections much further.
