News

Prez poll 2024: ITAK alleges bid to confuse Tamil electorate, reiterates backing for Sajith

Published

2 years ago

2024/09/14

Thilina Walpola

Rasamanickam

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Top spokesperson for Illankai Thamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) and Batticaloa District lawmaker Shanakiyan Rasamanickam yesterday (13) said efforts made in some quarters to confuse the Tamil speaking electorate had been convincingly defeated and their decision to support Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) candidate Sajith Premadasa at the Sept. 21 election had been communicated to their people.

MP Rasamanickam emphasised that the ITAK had moved swiftly and decisively to counter attempts by a small but an influential group of people to misinterpret its decision taken at a Central Committee meeting held in Vavuniya on Sept. 01.

The Batticaloa District ITAK strongman said so in response to The Island query as Jaffna district ITAK lawmaker S. Sritharan continued to dispute the decision taken at a properly constituted meeting in compliance with due procedure.

There were a couple of vacancies in the 41-member CC. Of the available membership, 31 members attended the Vavuniya meeting where a decision was made to back the candidature of Sajith Premadasa, MP, he said pointing out that 26 CC members out of 31 present had declared their support for the SJB leader, whereas two assured they would abide by the decision taken by the party, and three threw their weight behind Tamil candidate Pakkiyaselvam Ariyanenthiran.

“We perused the manifestos of three main candidates – independent candidate Ranil Wickremesinghe, SJB leader Sajith Premadasa and NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake. An overwhelming majority accepted the SJB leader’s manifesto,” MP Rasamanickam said. Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) and All-Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC), too, have declared their support for the SJB leader.

Declaration of Pakkiyaselvam Ariyanenthiran as the common Tamil candidate, backed by former militant groups TELO and PLOTE (both constituents of Tamil National Alliance) and EPRLF, had been in line with their overall strategy to undermine the ITAK decision, MP Rasamanickam said. Thamil Makkal Thesiya Kuttani (TMTK), led by retired Supreme Court Justice C.V. Wigneswaran, MP, backs Ariyanenthiran, while parliamentarian Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam’s All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC) wants people to boycott the presidential election – for the fourth occasion since the conclusion of the war in 2009.

Responding to another query, the MP insisted that the Northern and Eastern electorates weren’t so naive to be deceived by the fielding of a common Tamil candidate at a moment when the country was at a crossroads. Over 17.1 million are eligible to vote at the Sept. 21 national poll.

ITAK is the leading party in the TNA, with TELO and PLOTE being the other constituents. The TULF, that had been among the original line-up, left the grouping shortly thereafter, and EPRLF quit much later. As the TNA hadn’t been recognized by the Election Commission, the grouping contested under the ITAK’s symbol and represents Parliament under the same. The third largest grouping in parliament consists of 10 MP s.

According to MP Rasamanickam, of that group, six were members of the ITAK. Except for Sritharan, who represents the Jaffna electoral district, the rest declared their support for the SJB leader, the MP said.

Commenting on post-R. Sampanthan developments, the outspoken MP said that against the backdrop of Jaffna District Court issuing an injunction preventing the ITAK from holding its general convention in February this year, MP Sritharan couldn’t function as the leader, therefore those responsibilities would be performed by former MP Mavai Senathirajah, Rasamanickam said.

The MP stressed that in terms of their party Constitution, the leader, regardless of his status, wasn’t above the CC. Therefore, in spite of contradictory views expressed over the contentious issue of their backing for the SJB leader, the decision taken by the CC, following a spate of deliberations, remained unchanged, the parliamentarian said.

MP Rasamanickam said that the party would continue the dialogue with the SJB leader, in line with their overall objective of reaching consensus with his government.

Presidential hopeful Premadasa has repeatedly declared his intention to fully implement police and land powers in terms of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, enacted in November 1987, consequent to the Indo-Lanka peace accord of July 1987.

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Sri Lanka and Maldives strengthen ties with productive bilateral talks

Published

3 mins ago

2026/05/4

Priyan

Following the bilateral meeting between President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu of the Maldives, who is currently on a State visit to Sri Lanka, official-level bilateral discussions between the delegations of the two countries were held this morning (04) at the Presidential Secretariat.

The discussions commenced after the formal welcome ceremony accorded to President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu earlier this morning within the Presidential Secretariat premises.

Extending a warm welcome to the Maldivian President, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake expressed his appreciation for accepting the invitation to visit Sri Lanka.

President Dissanayake noted that President Muizzu’s visit, taking place as the two nations mark 61 years of diplomatic relations, reflects the strong partnership, mutual trust and longstanding friendship between Sri Lanka and the Maldives. The President further expressed confidence that the visit would mark a new phase in bilateral relations.

The two leaders engaged in extensive discussions on ways to further expand and diversify multifaceted cooperation, including economic, cultural and social ties, in a manner that delivers mutual benefits to the people of both countries.

Key areas of focus included tourism promotion, educational cooperation, youth and sports development, challenges faced by both nations in the fisheries sector within the Indian Ocean region, education and vocational training, as well as defence training and broader security cooperation.

Representing the Government of Sri Lanka were Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath, Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning, Anil Jayantha Fernando, Minister of Science and Technology, Krishantha Abeysena; Deputy Speaker Rizvie Salih, Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retired), Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (covering Europe, North America, East Asia and Oceania, Southeast Asia and Central Asia, South Asia, the Middle East and Legal Affairs) M. R. K. Lenagala, Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to the Maldives, Mohamed Rizvi Hassan and Director (South Asia and SAARC) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Mahesha Jayawardena.

The Maldivian delegation included Minister of Foreign Affairs Iruthisham Adam, Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Mohamed Saeed, Minister of Fisheries, Agriculture and Marine Resources, Ahmed Shiyam, Minister of Homeland Security and Technology, Ali Ihusaan, Chief of Staff to the President, Abdulla Fayaz, Principal Secretary to the President on Foreign Relations, Mohamed Naseer; Chief Government Spokesperson, Mohamed Hussain Shareef, High Commissioner of the Maldives to Sri Lanka,Masood Imad; Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Chief of Protocol , Mohamed Shahudy, Deputy Minister at the President’s Office, Mr Mohamed Hassaan and Minister Counsellor at the Maldives High Commission in Sri Lanka, Mr. Ismail Mamdhooh.

[President’s Media Division (PMD)]

News

Maldives and Sri Lanka exchange seven MOUs

Published

10 mins ago

2026/05/4

Priyan

Seven Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), signed across several sectors between the Maldives and Sri Lanka, were formally exchanged this morning (04) at the Presidential Secretariat in the presence of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu of the Maldives.

Marking a new chapter in Maldives–Sri Lanka relations, the MoUs cover cooperation in the fields of health, sports, tourism, education and defence.

Accordingly:

1. MoU on Tourism Cooperation between the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the Republic of Maldives was exchanged by Maldives Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms Iruthisham Adam and Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath.

2. MoU on Archiving Cooperation between the Department of National Archives of Sri Lanka and the National Archives of the Maldives was exchanged by Maldives Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms Iruthisham Adam and Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath.

3. MoU on Training and Professional Development of Teachers and School Leaders between the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Skills Development of the Maldives and the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education of Sri Lanka was exchanged by Maldives Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms Iruthisham Adam and Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath.

4. MoU on Sports and Youth Development Cooperation between the Republic of Maldives and the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka was exchanged by Maldives Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms Iruthisham Adam and Sri Lanka’s Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Sunil Kumara Gamage.

5. MoU on Defence Cooperation between the National Counter Terrorism Centre of the Maldives and the Ministry of Defence of Sri Lanka was exchanged by the Maldives High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Masood Imad, and the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retired).

6. MoU between the Ministry of Defence and National Service of the Maldives and General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University of Sri Lanka was exchanged by the Maldives High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Masood Imad and the Vice Chancellor of General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Rear Admiral Dammika Kumara.

7. MoU on Academic Cooperation between the University of Colombo of Sri Lanka and the Ministry of Health, Family and Welfare of the Maldives was exchanged by Maldives High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Masood Imad and the Vice Chancellor of the University of Colombo, Professor Indika Mahesh Karunathilake.

The state visit of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, undertaken at the invitation of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, aims to further strengthen economic, cultural and social ties between the two countries, while enhancing their multifaceted partnership.

Cabinet Ministers, government officials and members of the Maldivian delegation, representing both Sri Lanka and the Maldives, were present at the occasion.

[President’s Media Division]

News

Warm Welcome Accorded to the President of the Maldives at the Presidential Secretariat

Published

15 mins ago

2026/05/4

Priyan

The official welcoming ceremony for the President of the Maldives, Dr Mohamed Muizzu, who arrived in Sri Lanka on a State Visit at the invitation of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, was held this morning (04) at the Presidential Secretariat under the patronage of President Dissanayake.

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu is undertaking this State Visit with the objective of further strengthening economic, cultural and social ties between the Maldives and Sri Lanka, as well as enhancing the multifaceted partnership between the two countries.

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu and First Lady Sajidha Mohamed were escorted to the Presidential Secretariat premises with a Police Mounted Escort, following which they were ceremonially received with full honours by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

Following the playing of the national anthems of both countries, the official welcoming ceremony commenced.

On this occasion, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu was accorded a ceremonial gun salute with full State honours. Thereafter, the President of the Maldives inspected the Sri Lanka Armed Forces Guard of Honour.

Subsequently, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu and President Anura Kumara Dissanayake exchanged courtesies, following which members of the Maldivian and Sri Lankan State delegations were introduced.

Representing the Government of the Maldives were Minister of Foreign Affairs Iruthisham Adam; Minister of Economic Development, Trade and Transport Mohamed Saeed; Minister of Fisheries, Agriculture and Marine Resources Ahmed Shiyam; Minister of Homeland Security, Labour and Technology Ali Ihusaan; Chief of Staff to the President Abdulla Fayaz; Principal Secretary to the President on Foreign Relations Mohamed Naseer; Chief Government Spokesperson Mohamed Hussain Shareef; High Commissioner of the Maldives to Sri Lanka Masood Imad; Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Chief of Protocol Mohamed Shahudy; Social Secretary to the First Lady Khadeeja Nashwa; Deputy Under Secretary to the President Mohamed Hassaan; and Personal Director to the First Lady Lubaba Ali.

Representing the Government of Sri Lanka were Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath; Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Anil Jayantha Fernando; Minister of Science and Technology Krishantha Abeysena; Deputy Speaker Rizvi Salih; Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake; Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Air Vice Marshal (Retired) Sampath Thuyacontha; Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Europe, North America, East Asia and Oceania, South-East Asia and Central Asia, South Asia, Middle East and Legal Affairs) M. R. K. Lenagala; and Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to the Maldives Mohamed Rizvi Hassen.

[President’s Media Division (PMD)]