TNA urges people to vote for Sajith

• All four constituent parties agree to back Sajith
• Urge Tamil people whom it represents in particular to vote for the NDF candidate
• Says reposing confidence in candidature, programs, policies of Sajith could be correct course of action

The TNA yesterday urged all people, particularly the Tamil People whom it represents, to vote for Sajith Premadasa, the New Democratic Front (NDF) candidate contesting under the swan symbol in the upcoming Presidential Elections.

In a press statement signed by the leaders of the four parties that make up the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), they said an examination of the manifestos of the two candidates viewed along with their previous performance suggests that reposing confidence in the candidature and programs and polices of Sajith Premadasa would be the correct course of action.

The statement was signed by TNA Leader R. Sampanthan, Illankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) Leader Mavai Senathirajah, Tamil Eelam Liberation Organisation (TELO) Leader Selvam Adaikkalanathan, and People’s Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE) Leader Dharmalingham Siddarthan.

The TNA said that it expects the newly elected President to be genuinely committed to (1) democracy, opposed to authoritarianism and totalitarianism, that could lead to dictatorial tendencies, (2) the protection and preservation of the independence of the different institutions of governance, the Legislature, the Executive and the Judiciary, the services, in particular, the public service, the Police service, and the Armed services and the different institutions in control of the said services, (3) fundamental rights and human rights, and (4) justice and equality and committed to enabling all citizens irrespective of ethnicity or religion, to genuinely partake in governance, both nationally and regionally, leading to the creation of a united undivided and indivisible country in which all citizens, while preserving and protecting their specific identity, feel they are equals and that they belong to one country, just as much as the country belongs to all of them. 

“The first two candidates have been involved in governance and belong to political formations that have been in governance in recent times. We have their past performance, on the basis of which a proper judgment can be made. We also have their manifestos, which define their policies, on the basis of which also a judgment can be made in regard to their commitment to democracy, inclusive of abjuring authoritarianism and totalitarianism, protecting the independence of the Legislature and the Judiciary, the services and institutions, promoting justice and equality amongst all citizens inclusive of the sharing of the powers of governance within a united undivided and indivisible country, and thereby uniting the country,” the Party said.

The TNA said that while the record in office of Gotabaya Rajapaksa is dismal, Sajith Premadasa is a leader with clean hands. In whatever capacity he has functioned, it is accepted that he has done his best. 

“He (Premadasa) has reiterated his firm commitment to uniting all the people and the country and taking forward the country towards progress and prosperity. He states that he has a clear vision of his mission. There are positive features deserving of favourable consideration. The issue of an acceptable political solution to the national question within a united, undivided, indivisible country, the issue of missing persons, the issue of persons in custody, the release of lands, resettlement and rehabilitation, the implementation of commitments made by the Government, both domestically and internationally, need to be fulfilled, and the newly elected President would need to address these matters urgently,” the TNA said.

 The TNA said that while taking all factors into account, particularly past performance on vital fronts and future performance based on their respective manifestos, the TNA would urge all people to vote for Sajith Premadasa.