TULF seeks to form Tamil common front

The Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) has called on Tamil political parties including those of the south and upcountry to get united under one banner to form a common front, as an alternative to the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) in the interest of the Tamil speaking people.

TULF General Secretary V. Anandasangaree said that the TULF is the only political party that has the moral right to represent the Tamil people in all their activities.

Anandasangaree said that the time has now come for all Tamils to get together and demand the dissolution of both the Illangai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) and the TNA.

“The TNA took the Tamil people for a ride without any progress made with regard to our problems. The youths in prison suffer for several years. The Minister of Justice had said recently that the TNA had no appointment with him to discuss the issue of those in prison. Contradictory Statements are made by important Member of the TNA some of which are very damaging. The TNA helped the incumbent Prime Minister to win the Presidential election in 2005. At the Presidential Election in 2010 boasting too much about the capacity of the Tamils to elect a President resulted in thorough failure. For a period of 10 years no efforts were taken to unite the Tamil leaders. On the ethnic question no serious action was taken. It is now in doubt whether it is India or South Africa they are now depending on. Much more can be said. Demanding inquiry against the LTTE cadre’s war crimes is a cut throat move having used the LTTE to win seats to Parliament,” he added.

He says the people loved and respected ‘Thanthai Selva’ for his commitments to non-violence, but ITAK was formed on the orders of one who was fully committed to violence. (Colombo Gazette)

Up Country People’s Front to contest under UNP

The Up Country People’s Front, a party representing the Indian origin plantation Tamil population in Sri Lanka has decided to contest the upcoming parliamentary election with the United National Party, its leader V. Radhakrishnan told reporters in Hatton.

The Central Working Committee of the party has granted approval for the party to contest the upcoming general election together with the United National Party. The executive committee has taken this decision when it met at Hatton on Wednesday.

Accordingly, they will field candidates to the Nuwara Eliya and Badulla districts under the list of UNP. Radhakrishnan said that however, the decision will be discussed with the other parties of the Tamil Progressive Alliance, the tri-party alliance of minor Tamil parties.

The Upcountry People’s Front (UPF) recently joined the Democratic People’s Front (DPF), a minority party for the Western Province Tamils led by Mano Ganesan and Palani Digambaram’s National Union of Workers (NUW) to from the Tamil Progressive Alliance.

The Former State Minister said President Maithripala Sirisena has also invited him for discussions.

In addition the TPA has planned to field two more candidates for the northern and eastern provinces aligned with the Tamil National Alliance. The party says further talks will be conducted with the TNA in this regard.