Six Tamil and Muslim political parties have announced a joint initiative to pressure the government on three key issues: introducing a new constitution, holding long‑delayed provincial council elections, and stopping state‑led land acquisitions affecting Tamil‑speaking communities in the Northern and Eastern provinces.
The announcement was made at a media briefing in Colombo, where Tamil Progressive Alliance leader Mano Ganesan said President Anura Kumara Dissanayake had pledged to bring forward a new constitution immediately after assuming office. Ganesan also noted that the President had appointed an opposition MP to the parliamentary committee tasked with drafting the proposed constitution.
Former ITAK General Secretary M.A. Sumanthiran criticized the government for repeatedly postponing provincial council elections, despite promising to hold them within the first year of coming to power. “Three years have passed with continuous delays,” he said.
Sumanthiran further demanded the immediate release of lands allegedly taken over by the Mahaweli Authority, the Department of Archaeology, and the military, claiming these lands rightfully belong to Tamil-speaking residents of the North and East.
Speaking at the briefing, ITAK President’s Counsel M.A. Sumanthiran said the National People’s Power (NPP) Government had failed to fulfil two key promises made in its Election manifesto nearly two years after assuming office.
The joint media briefing brought together several prominent political leaders, including Rauff Hakeem of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, Selvam Adaikkalanathan of the Democratic Tamil National Alliance, Rishad Bathiudeen of the All Ceylon Makkal Congress, and Jeevan Thondaman of the Ceylon Workers’ Congress.
The parties stated that their collaboration aims to address longstanding issues faced by Tamil-speaking communities and to ensure their rights are protected.