ITAK to back Sajith

•  ITAK interim leader Mavai Senathirajah says announcement by Sumanthiran cannot be considered official party stance

SJB leader Sajith Premadasa

M.A. Sumanthiran

Mavai Senathirajah

Illankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) has announced its support for Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa in the upcoming Presidential election. 

The announcement was made by ITAK MP M.A. Sumanthiran at a press conference yesterday, following a decision reached during the ITAK Central Committee meeting held in Vavuniya over the weekend.

However, ITAK interim leader Mavai Senathirajah said the announcement made by Sumanthiran cannot be considered the official party stance. Senathirajah said he was not informed of the ITAK Central Committee’s decision to support Sajith Premadasa and was unaware of any such decision.  

Addressing the media, Sumanthiran said that the ITAK had made three key decisions regarding the Presidential elections. He said the party decided not to support the Common Tamil Candidate, P. Ariyanethran, and called for him to withdraw from the Presidential race. Thirdly, he said the ITAK chose to endorse Sajith Premadasa’s candidacy.

Sumanthiran explained that the ITAK had analysed the manifestos of all the main candidates before deciding whom to support. He noted that the party chose not to back the Tamil candidate, as the Tamil vote would be a critical factor in the upcoming election and could be leveraged to negotiate solutions for the Tamil National Question.

The MP stated that the party concluded Premadasa’s manifesto offered the most favourable promises to the Tamil community. In his manifesto, titled “A Win All,” Premadasa has pledged to fully implement the current Constitution, including the 13th Amendment, until a new Constitution is passed. He also reaffirmed his commitment to the provincial councils by not retracting their existing powers and instead focusing on strengthening developments at the provincial level.

The manifesto said the SJB also hopes to convert the current ruling system to a Parliamentary system, with maximum devolution based on the 13th Amendment. 

Interestingly, ITAK MP SivagnanamShritharan, who was elected as the ITAK leader this year but is currently barred from functioning in the position due to an injunction order, had extended his support to Ariyanethran in August. This move is believed to have caused a rift within the party.

Shritharan was notably absent from the meeting where the decision on the party’s support was made. According to sources, he is currently on a visit to the United Kingdom and continues to enjoy majority support within the party.