Dispute Among Tamil Leaders Over Presidential Election Support

A rift has emerged in Sri Lanka's main Tamil party, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), over support for opposition candidate Sajith Premadasa in the upcoming presidential election. While ITAK, TNA's main constituent, decided to back Premadasa, party president S Sritharan refuted such a decision. The matter remains contentious within the party, with a final resolution pending.

A rift is intensifying within Sri Lanka's main Tamil party over supporting the opposition candidate Sajith Premadasa in the September 21 presidential election.

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) announced its backing for Premadasa on September 1, a decision made during a central committee meeting of its principal constituent, the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK). However, party president S Sritharan, who was in the UK during the meeting, claims no such decision was taken, advocating support for Tamil common candidate P Ariyanethiran instead.

Party leader Mavai Senathirajah revealed that in a meeting held in Vauniya, 10 executive committee members decided to delay the final decision until September 15. However, senior TNA leader M A Sumanthiran insisted that ITAK's decision to back Premadasa is final.

(With inputs from agencies.)