TNA

Statement of urgent public importance pertaining to the Bungalow of the Leader of the Opposition and other matters related thereto. Dear Hon. Speaker, You recognized me as the Leader of the Opposition of the Sri Lankan Parliament in September 2015. At that time, for over twenty years, as a Member of Parliament, I had been […]

Image: TNA leader Sampanthan with Prez Sirisena. ( the Economic Times). 29th November 2018. His Excellency Maithiripala Sirisena President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Presidential Secretariat Colombo -01 Your Excellency, Appointment of a Prime Minister who commands the Confidence of Parliamentග We write to you in regard to the above in the […]

SAMPANTHAN’S PREFERENCE OF GANDHI OVER PRABHAKARAN. SAMPANTHAN’S BLOWING HOT AND COLD INDICATES THE PREDICAMENT THE TAMIL LEADERS ARE GOING THROUGH. THE FREEING OF PTA DETAINEES, THE RELEASE OF OCCUPIED LANDS AND THE ISSUE OF MISSING PROGRESSING IN SNAIL PACE. THE CONFESSION ON THE ARMED STRUGGLE LAST WEEK WAS HIS UNDERSTANDING OF THE REAL GROUND SITUATION. […]

A meeting between The Leader of the Opposition and the Tamil National Alliance R Sampanthan and the Minister of State for Asia and the Pacific Rt. Hon Mark Field took place today at the Westminster House in Colombo. Voicing his concern Mr Sampanthan pointed out that the conduct of this government was undoubtedly different to […]

(Press Release/18 July 2018)  The Visiting Belgium-Sri Lanka Parliamentary Friendship Group met with the Leader of the Opposition and the Tamil National Alliance today at the office of the Leader of the opposition in parliament. Briefing the delegation Mr Sampanthan highlighted that the present Sri Lankan Constitution is not enacted based on consensus. The processes […]

TNA leader Sampanthan says that ” We cannot entertain any further undue delays in this matter the draft Constitution must be presented to parliament and debated and upon receiving a two-thirds majority it should be approved by the people at a referendum he added.” He was speaking at the  meeting with the visiting Norwegian State Secretary […]

Image: TNA leader Sampanthan meeting the visiting US delegation. ( TNA photo) In a meeting with the  visiting United States House of Representatives Armed Services Committee Delegation , TNA leader R.Sampanthan has  “urged the delegation that the role of the International community with regard to Sri Lanka must be defined in relation to the UNHRC recommendations.” He […]

The first draft of the new Constitution will be presented to the Steering Committee on Thursday, May 24, after much interruption, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP, M. A. Sumanthiran told the Sunday Observer in an exclusive interview. The presentation will take place after the expert panel, advising the steering committee, concludes and finalises the draft […]

May Day Message: As we commemorate one of the most historically important days of the world history, my best wishes go to all working-class people of this country who give their best to take this island nation to a brighter future. The working class is the backbone of our economic prosperity hence the rights and […]

The Hon. Rajavarothiam Sampanthan – Leader of the Opposition). Mr. Speaker, we are debating today a Motion of No-Confidence against no less a person than the Prime Minister and the Motion substantially deals with the question of corruption. Corruption has been the worst disease that has afflicted our country. There was a time when there […]

  Image: Jubilant Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe gestures along with Health Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne after the vote on the No Confidence Motion – AFP Prime Minister Ranil Wickremsinghe yesterday emerged victorious after he managed to decisively defeat the much anticipated No-Confidence Motion with a comprehensive majority of 46 votes and will meet President Maithripala […]

By Jehan Perera. The unexpectedly strong electoral performance by the newly formed SLPP whose chief protagonist is former President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the recent local government elections was a wake-up call to the parties in government. The opposition has argued that the elections, which came a little after the mid-point of the government’s five year […]

R.Sampanthan. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thought I would say a few words on this debate. The people have delivered a verdict and, in a democracy, the people’s verdict must be respected. The Hon. Member who moved the Motion and the Hon. Member who seconded the Motion have referred to various matters. I think, Sir, […]

Meera Srinivasan / The Hindu.  With a banner sporting a picture of Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) founder S.J.V. Chelvanayakam in the background, senior Tamil leader R. Sampanthan made a fervent appeal in an election rally in Jaffna. “Unity”, he said, “is the only weapon we have now.” Days ahead of Sri Lanka’s February 10 […]

R. Sampanthan. With gratitude to our forefathers who fought for independence, I issue this message on 70th Independence Day of our Country. We are at a crucial juncture of our history as we celebrate seventy years of Independence. As a country, we have not been able to enjoy the true benefits of the independence in […]

Image: Anton Balasingham of the LTTE and then Foreign Minister G. L. Peiris at peace talks.  The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) in its manifesto for the forthcoming local government election said that that the solution it seeks with regard to the ethnic problem in Sri Lanka was similar to what was in the Oslo Declaration. This was […]

Image courtesy of News  Radio. Issuing a joint statement Mavai Senathirajah  of ITAK  Hon. Selvam Adikkalanathan  of TELO and Hon. Dharmalingham Siddarththan  PLOTE, says that  they will contest upcoming local government election as alliance, under the name of  Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) Full text of the press release: The Tamil National Alliance Constituent party leaders Hon. […]

Image courtesy of Asian Mirror (file photo). By R.Sampanthan. Mr. Speaker, I want to commence my speech by congratulating the Finance Minister, the Hon. Mangala Samaraweera who has presented his first Budget at a time when the country’s economy is in much difficulty. The Hon. Minister is an old, sincere Friend who has always been […]

Rajavarothiam Sampanthan – Leader of the Opposition. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We are debating the Interim Report submitted to the Constitutional Assembly by the Steering Committee appointed by the Constitutional Assembly in regard to the framing of a new Constitution for our country. This is a very important debate, Sir, a historic debate. Our first […]

In a way of adjournment motion which will be presented tomorrow in Parliament, TNA leader R. Sampanthan  has responded to the state minister of defense Ruwan  Wijewardena, who has reiterated their position  that there are political prisoners in Sri Lanka at present and Tamil detainees  held under the PTA will not be released.  In his adjournment motion […]

In his discussion with  visiting UK Minister of State for Asia and the Pacific Rt. Hon. Mark Field TNA leader R.Sampanthan has  said that if  Sri Lanka  fail in in finding a resolution to the national question through a new constitution there will be a recurrence of  violence.  Sampanthan has also highlighted the need for the Northern […]

The war crimes cases registered against former army commander General Jagath Jayasuriya in five South American countries even while he was Sri Lanka’s ambassador to Brazil would alert the government that it needs to take remedial action without further delay. Although the former army commander had diplomatic immunity, international law also states that those accused […]

Image: TNA delegation with the visiting US Assistant Secretary of State, Ambassador Alice Wells. Tamil National Alliance met with two high level visiting foreign dignitaries today in Colombo and urge them to  exert their good offices to ensure that this is delivered as per the promise given by the Government of Sri Lanka to the people […]

Image: A photo of a disappeared child  being displayed at rotating fast by the families of the disappeared in Vavuniya, Vanni. (c)s . deshapriya. International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances. It is with grief and distress that we face another International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances. There are thousands of people who […]

Image: R.Sampanthan & TNA Spokesman M.A.Sumanthiran meeting US Members of Congress.  The relationship between the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and the government is on the rocks with Tamils in the North losing faith in the administration. The TNA has said enough is enough and the international community must now intervene to address the issues faced […]

Image: Sampathan welcoming US delegation. (TNA) A meeting was held today (10.08.2017) between the visiting United States Congress delegates and the Leader of the Tamil National Alliance R. Sampanthan and Jaffna District Parliamentarian and TNA Spokesman Mr. Sumanthiran in Colombo. The Congress Delegates led by Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (Republican -New Jersey) Chairman, House Appropriations Committee, […]

Image: President Sirisena assured the chief Buddhist prelates that the government would keep them posted on the draft. Meera Srinivasan . Speaking at a book launch last week, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said the draft of Sri Lanka’s new Constitution would be ready by January 2018, yet again shifting the deadline for the challenging task his […]

A meeting was held between the Tamil National Alliance led by R. Sampanthan and visiting United Nations Under Secretary General for Political Affairs Jeffery Feltman today at the UN office in Colombo. Mr. Sampanthan raised concerns related to matters that affect the day to day life of the Tamil people living in the North and […]

Writing to Chief Minster Wigneswaran, the leader of the Tamil National Alliance R. Sampanthan says that what is happening in the Northern Provincial Council is a result of his unwarranted action of announcing punitive action  against the two ministers who had not been found guilty. Northern Provincial is in turmoil after Wignaswaran calling for the resignation […]

Image: Chelvanayagam at the 1961 sathyagrahaya.  Rajitha Senarathna. When we were political cubs, we knew of Chelvanayagam as one who was the “father” figure of Tamil Nationalism. He was one Tamil political leader who was affectionately called “Thanthai” – meaning ‘Father’ – Chelva. Samuel James Velupillai Chelvanayagam dominated Tamil politics in the first 03 decades in […]