TNA-Fonseka talks affable  |
| DAILY MIRROR 22nd Decemeber 2009 |
By Kelum Bandara The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) said yesterday that there was an appreciation of its concerns by Opposition Common Candidate Gen. Sarath Fonseka at the discussion with him on Sunday night, which the party’s Parliamentary group would take up for consideration today. The TNA has already taken a decision not to boycott the Presidential election or to field a separate candidate for it with the party expected to support one of the candidates contesting the Presidency. It has already disassociated itself from the candidature of its MP M.K. Sivajilingam. Party leader R. Sampanthan told the Daily Mirror that it was just another meeting with Gen. Fonseka as a Presidential candidate of the opposition. “It took place in a cordial atmosphere. We exchanged views. There was an appreciation of our concerns,” he said. However, Mr. Sampanthan did not say the outcome of the meeting was either positive or negative. Asked whether the TNA would meet President Mahinda Rajapaksa, he said that his party would do so if the need arises. TNA MP Suresh Premachandran who also participated in this meeting said that the discussion was centred on his party’s requests such as the removal of certain military camps in the North, the constriction of the High Security Zones, the resettlement of displaced civilians in a proper manner and a programme for the Tamil youths now in custody or in remand prison. Mr. Premachandran said that the meeting lasted from 9.00 p.m to 11.00 p.m. TNA General Secretary Mavai Senathirajah and MP Gajendra Kumar Ponnambalam also participated in the meeting. UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya also took part in the meeting which was aimed as securing the support of the TNA for Gen. Fonseka’s bid for the Presidency. Meanwhile, TNA MP N. Sri Kantha who has pledged support to the candidature of his colleague M. K. Sivajilingam, said yesterday that they were of the considered view that the TNA should not support any of the two main candidates since both of them had failed to spell out their stands on the ethnic question except occasional references to the 13th Amendment. He was responding to party leader R. Sampanthan who said the party had decided neither to field a candidate nor boycott the election. Mr. Sri Kantha said there was no decision as such at the end of the meeting held on December 9, and attended by 17 MPs. “If there was any, it was to meet again,” he said. With the TNA leadership along with a few other MPs being out of the country, Mr. Sri Kantha said, they were in a dilemma. He said it is absolutely meaningless to support any of the two main candidates without a firm and public commitment from them on the ethnic question. “That is why we fielded a candidate in the absence of a decision by the party. It is not still too late for the party to make a rational and logical decision though choices are very limited now,” he said. He said the party could either endorse the candidature of Mr. Sivajilingam or boycott the election. “We are ready to discuss in this regard,” he said. |
Thursday, December 24, 2009
TNA should not support the two main presidential candidates – TELO MP Srikantha
TNA and TELO parliamentarian Srikantha says their party should not support the main presidential candidates as they have still not brought in a proposed solution for the ethnic problem faced in the country. He further added both candidates have pointed out on the implementation of the 13th amendment bill but no clear word on a permanent solution to the problem faced by the minority.Srikantha says Sampathan’s comments on not boycotting the elections or fielding a candidate was not true as stated earlier as a decision taken during the meeting held on the 9th of December. He added no clear decision were made during the meeting and went on to say the TNA should support M.K Sivajilingam or boycott the polls.Meanwhile the TNA leader R. Sampanthan stated they had a very constructive meeting with General Fonseka last Sunday.He said the general gave very positive replies to the requests and points put forward by the party.No detailed comments were made on the outcome of this meeting by both sides.
| Tamil National Alliance met again regarding Presidential election, but decision not taken. |
| [ Wednesday, 23 December 2009, 02:21.10 AM GMT +05:30 ] |
 Reports states, in regard to the upcoming Presidential election, the Tamil National Alliance met for a decision of whom to support, but final decision was not taken. The meeting was held at the Parliament complex today from 10.00 a.m to 4.00 p.m. |
During the discussions the issues discussed with President Mahinda Rajapakse and General Candidate Sarath Fonseka were taken for discussion, and those attended the meeting, gave their individual opinions. On this basis, it was decided to meet again on the forthcoming 4th, until then discussions would be held with the main candidates was according to sources. Meanwhile speculations are that the Tamil National Alliance will most probably take a decision before the postal voting of which candidate to support at the upcoming Presidential election. At today’s meeting Sivanathan Kishore, Sri Skantha did not attend and Selvam Adaikalanthan, Thangeswari and Chandrakanthan were not in Colombo hence they also did not attend the meeting was according to reports. Hence the participants at the meeting were R.Sambanthan, Mawai Senanitharaja, Ariyanenthiran , Suresh Piremachandran, Gajendrakumar, Gajendran, Pathmini Sithambaranathan Sivashakthy Ananthan, Vino Nokarathalingam, Imam, Thurairatna Singam and Cyril |
Anti-Fonseka Group within the TNA prevails
Colombo, 23 December
SMS leadership (Left to Right) R. Sampanthan, Mavai S. Senathirajah, and Suresh Premachandran
Attempts made by the Tamil National Alliance’s SMS leadership (R. Sampanthan, Mavai S. Senathirajah, and Suresh Premachandran) – a subtle move to thrust a decision on the rest of the TNA Parliamentary Group MPs to back General (retd.) Sarath Fonseka, the decimator of Tamils’ resistance, has again come to a cropper yesterday, with the majority of the parliamentarians present stiffly resisting the move.
The yesterday's meeting of the TNA Parliamentary group was attended by 12 out of the 22 Members of Parliament, which was presided over by the group leader R. Sampanthan.
It is understood that questions were raised by some concerned MPs for not extending the invitation to attend to three of its MPs, namely – the Presidential candidate M.K.Sivajilingham, his proposer N.Srikantha and also Sivananthn Kisshor – the Vanni electoral district Parliamentarian who has publicly anounced of his support to President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Asian Tribune learnt that the explanation was given by one of the members of the SMS leadership that the conduct of those three MPs needed to be discussed by the parliamentary group and hence they were not invited.
This abrasive explanation failed to find favor with most of those parliamentarians. Finding that there was opposition in this regard, the SMS leadership shifted the focus to the discussion they had with Former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka and company.
It became evident that 7 TNA MPs were quiet clear with their stance that TNA should not support either Sarath Fonseka or President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Though the meeting lasted for three and a half to four hours, even skipping the lunch, there was no signs of any positive inclination on the part of the majority of the MPs to accept the proposal of the SMS leadership, that subtly and ingeniously introduced the agenda with vested interest, other than taking the interest of the Tamils in particular, according to a Parliamentarian who attended yesterday’s group meeting.
It is learnt that TNA parliamentarians Gajendrakumar Ponnampalam, Solomon Cyril, Vino Noharathalingham, Packiyaselvam Ariyanethiran, Selvarajah Kajendran, Pathmini Sithamparanathan and Kathirgamathamby Thurairetnasingham showed their opposition to back Sarath Fonseka.
The trio forming the SMS leadership, R. Sampanthan, Mavai Senathirajah, Suresh Premachandran and the other EPRLF MP from Vanni Sivasakthi Anananthan spoke in favor of supporting Sarath Fonseka.
Furthermore, the National list MP from Jaffna Raseen Mohammed Imam was not supportive and remain evasive.
The notable absentees for the parliamentary group meetings were Selvam Adaikalanathan - President of the TELO, Dr. Thomas Thangathurai William, and the other nominated MP from the East Chandra Nehru Chandrakanthan.
It is also learnt that those 3 MPs are also opposed to supporting either of the two main Presidential candidates.
In this scenario with Senathirajah Jeyananthamoorthy has already expressed his opposition to TNA extending its support to any of the two main contenders in the Presidential election, it is now very clear that despite SMS leadership trying their best to outsmart the TNA MPs, a failed ploy similar to those ploys adopted in the earlier days by the Ilankai Thamil Arasu Kadchchi leadership in the sixties and in the beginning of the seventies, the SMS leadership remains isolated and vanquished.
To this report, it is also important to add that M. K. Sivajilingham – the TELO Leader and his proposer N. Srikantha, Jaffna district MP have already defied the hegemony of the SMS leadership, with the former entering the Presidential fray.
Also mentioned should be made about Thangeswary Kathiraman, MP from Batticaloa, who has already expressed her frustration over the manipulation of the SMS leadership.
As it is, it is clear that the SMS leadership remains isolated, the stance of other Batticaloa MP Thanmanpillai Kanagasabai, who is now in India, is yet to be made known. As all the other 3 Batticaloa district TNA parliamentarians going against Fonseka, it is expected that he too would join the rest of the parliamentarians from the district.
The only exception in the whole scenario is Sathasivam Kanagaratnam MP. He is being held at the 4th Floor of the Police Secretariat since 19 May 2009, just after the conclusion of the bloody conflict.
The SMS leadership so far has not taken any concrete measures for his release, except Asian Tribune which continues to highlight his case and plight and urges for his release.
Asian Tribune learnt that only two TNA parliamentarians - Vanni District MP Sivananthan Kisshor and N. Srikantha were the two who have visited him in the 4th floor.
Furthermore, at the conclusion of the group meeting, announcement for the next group meeting was made as it will be held in the first week of January 2010, most probably when the next parliamentary sitting is scheduled on 5th January 2010.
The SMS leadership also anounced that, they might be visting New Delhi. They said that they expect an invitation from New Delhi soon for talks about the political development in Sri Lanka and the position of the Tamils at the present context.
In the meantime Asian Tribune also learnt that Sivajilingham, the Presidential candidate, who is presently in the United Kingdom, is expected to return to Sri Lanka on the eve of Christmas.
- Asian Tribune -
A section of TNA coming forward to support Sarath Fonseka : The rift widens within the outfit
A section of TNA coming forward to support Sarath Fonseka : The rift widens within the outfit
The Tamil National Alliance leadership has summoned the Parliamentary Group meeting tomorrow to finalize on their support to Sarath Fonseka in the forthcoming Presidential Election, it is learnt.
Asian Tribune reliably learnt that yesterday night R. Sampanthan, TNA Parliamentary Group Leader, Mavai Senathirajah Deputy Leader and Suresh Premachanthiran the Parliamentary Group whip were having discussion with Ranil Wickremasinghe, the leader of the United National Party.
Furthermore, Asian Tribune learnt that the SMS leadership of the TNA were to meet later with General Sarath Fonseka too, to finalize their deal.
It was not clear whether they had any discussion with Sarath Fonseka.
When Asian Tribune contacted the deputy leader Mavai Senathirajah, he excused himself as he was with some officials. Sampanthan and Suresh Premachanthiran were not available for clarification.
In the meantime, many TNA parliamentarians have informed that they will not be available for the group meeting tomorrow as it was being arranged on a very short notice.
It is unclear what sort of an understanding TNA leadership has reached with Sarath Fonseka, to come up with a proposal to discuss tomorrow in the Parliamentary group meeting.
If in case the TNA leadership has finalized anything with Sarath Fonseka, will they come up publicly with the written agreement they have entered with Sarath Fonseka?
Also will they be in a position to spell out the terms and conditions agreed upon with someone who takes pride in decimating LTTE Leader Velupillai Prabhakaran, his family and all the topnotch leadership of the LTTE which was instrumental in organizing the TNA as a proxy political outfit of the LTTE.
In the meantime it is learnt that the boycott lobby spearheaded by TNA parliamentarian Gajendrakumar Ponnabalam backed by another six MPs including himself and Jayananthamurthy who is presently on self-exile in London are reviewing their position regarding their stance despite pressure being excreted by the SMS leadership which intends to support Sarath Fonseka.
It is learnt that some supporters of the TNA who are unhappy with the political stance of the SMS leadership of TNA, and it is learnt that an understanding is emerging slowly between the boycott group and the Sivagilingham supporters.
But Asian Tribune learnt that M.K. Sivajilingham and N. Srikantha are keen on enlisting the support of those who backed the proposal of TNA feeding a candidate at the last Parliamentary group meeting.
The latest TNA’s position, Parliamentarians pulling apart, there is every possibility of a show down between pro-Foneska backers and the rest.
Though the TELO has not made any official pronouncement of supporting Sivajilingham, the leaders of TELO, contesting the election according to some reports the other two TELO parliamentarians Selvam Adaikalnathan and Vino Noha Rathalingham also the other leaders of the TELO would come out openly to support Sivajilingham towards the tail end of the campaign.
Asian Tribune learnt that there is also another four MPs of the TNA, who would endorse the candidature of Sivajilingham at one stage or other.
Interestingly at the weekly Sakthi TV’s minnal program, Srikantha the TNA MP who proposed Sivajilingham has lashed out at both Mahinda Rajapakse and Sarath Foneska for failing to have taken a clear stance on the ethnic question. He has asserted that TNA under no circumstances should support either of them.
“ It is a power struggle that is going on between the Sinhalese leadership and as an oppressed nation, the Tamils have no role in that”, he mentioned.
Friday, December 11, 2009
| TNA sharply divided over presidential election |
| DAILY MIRROR 11th Dec 2009 |
By Kelum Bandara The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) were sharply divided over the presidential election whether to support any of the two main candidates after its second consecutive parliamentary group meeting held yesterday. The TELO, a constituent party of the TNA, mooted the idea of fielding a candidate for the election on behalf of the party. Four TELO MPs namely M.K. Sivajilingam, N. Sri Kantha, Selvam Adaikkalanathan and Vino Noharathalingam and three other TNA MPs supported this proposal. MP Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam who represented the All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC) proposed that the TNA should boycott the election in the Northern and Eastern Provinces while asking the people in the south to vote for New Left Front candidate Wickramabahu Karunaratne whom the party considers as a person espousing Tamil aspirations. Mr. Ponnambalam’s proposal was backed by two other MPs in the party. Five MPs including leader R. Sampanthan were not in favour of fielding a candidate, and instead adopted a ‘wait and watch’ approach. They highlighted that the party should take a decision accordingly depending on the political developments in terms of the election. A TNA MP who wished to remain anonymous told Daily Mirror that there was one member who wanted to support Opposition Common Candidate Gen. Sarath Fonseka. However, he declined to reveal his name. Seventeen MPs attended the meeting yesterday, held at the parliamentary complex, and a few MPs remained non-committal on the election. Nevertheless, they agreed to stand by the party’s decision in this respect. There was also an idea mooted by one MP to field a TNA parliamentarian as an independent candidate for the election. The party is expected to meet soon to take a final decision. The TNA is an amalgam of four parties. In addition to the TELO and the ALTC, the EPRLF and TULF are the other two parties. |
Saturday, November 21, 2009
NATION -22nd Nov 2009
TNA Parliamentarians N. Srikantha and Sivanathan Kisshor vehemently denied reports that they were about to cross over to the government, but vowed to work constructively with the authorities on issues affecting Tamils, especially those in IDP camps.
Srikantha conceded that a few local government politicians from the TNA, including the Chairman of the Trincomalee Urban Council had crossed over to the government ranks in recent days, but he had no such intention, having been fighting for Tamil cause since a teenager.
Both Srikantha and Kisshor, however, hinted that they might see some surprises coming from within the TNA fold, in the event the that opposition alliance decides to field Gen. Sarath Fonseka as their common candidate.
They said that the undue delay in naming their common candidate by the UNF could be the opposition being shown to Fonseka from within the alliance.
