Vaiko, the General Secretary of the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) party in Tamil Nadu, has expressed his shock and dismay over the recent victory of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s National People’s Power (NPP) in Sri Lanka’s 2024 parliamentary elections. In a statement released on November 15, Vaiko stated that the victory of Dissanayake’s party could pose a significant challenge to the struggle for equality and justice for Eelam Tamils.
Vaiko further expressed concerns about Dissanayake’s stance on Tamil issues, referring to reports suggesting that the president may hold anti-Tamil views. He highlighted that Dissanayake has been vocal in his opposition to the implementation of the 13th Constitutional Amendment, which aimed at devolving powers to Tamil-majority provinces, and has also opposed the merger of the Eastern and Northern provinces, where a significant Tamil population resides.
In his statement, Vaiko warned that the new government under President Dissanayake might introduce laws that could be detrimental to the rights of Tamils in Sri Lanka. He also called on the Indian government to reassess its approach and stop offering support to Sri Lanka, urging India to take a firm stance in international forums such as the United Nations Human Rights Council, especially in relation to the ongoing Tamil struggle.
Vaiko called for the withdrawal of Sri Lankan government forces from Tamil lands, the release of Tamil political prisoners, and the initiation of an international investigation into alleged genocide against Tamils in Sri Lanka. He urged the Indian government not to betray the Tamil people of Eelam by aligning itself with Sri Lanka’s interests on the global stage.
In his appeal, Vaiko urged the Tamil people of Tamil Nadu and across the world to unite and raise their voices in support of the Sri Lankan Tamil community, emphasizing the need for solidarity in the fight for justice and equality.
