News

ITAK sans EPRLF, TELO and PLOTE confident of securing majority of seats in N&E

Published

2 years ago

2024/11/1

Thilina Walpola

Shanakiyan

…ponders future course of action

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Batticaloa District Illankai Thamil Arasu Kadchchi (ITAK) contestant Shanakiyan Rasamanickam said that they would decide on a future course of action after the conclusion of the parliamentary election.

The former MP said so when The Island asked whether the TNA would consider backing the National People’s Power (NPP) government.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake recently hinted at the possibility of possible consensus between some Tamil political parties and his government. President Dissanayake had separate meetings with ex-parliamentarians EPDP leader Douglas Devananda and Sivagnanam Shritharan of TNA.

Rasamanickam declared that the ITAK could secure 13 seats, including two National List slots. “Regardless of all sorts of claims and criticism directed at us by political rivals, we are still the dominant party in the Northern and Eastern Provinces.

.That’ll be reiterated at the Nov. 14 general election,” Rasamanickam said.

Responding to another query, the outspoken politician said the EPRLF, TELO and PLOTE had quit the ITAK-led Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and the ITAK also known as the Federal Party was contesting general election on its own.

According to Rasamanickam when compared with the number of Tamil political parties that had been represented in the last parliament, the number of parties and independent groups contesting in the Northern and Eastern districts was much higher.

In the last parliament, altogether five political parties were represented. The TNA contesting under ITAK symbol ‘House’ secured 10 seats, including one NL slot, EPDP (2), AITC (2) including one NL), TMVP (1) and TMTK (1).

Declaring that they had absolutely no problem in retaining the same number of seats as in the previous parliament, Rasamanickam said the oldest party in that part of the country was aiming 13 seats.

One-time TNA MP Pakkiyaselvam Ariyaenthiran who contested the recently concluded presidential election as an independent candidate was not in the fray at the general election, Rasamanickam said. However, those who backed him at that election were contesting on the Democratic Tamil National Alliance (DTNA) ticket, Rasamanickam said.

“TELO and PLOTE that represented the TNA in parliament previously are with the DTNA,” Rasamanickam said, adding that their symbol originally belonged to Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU). Asked about ex-TNA lawmaker Sivagnanam Shritharan’s status, Rasamanickam said that Shritharan was on their Jaffna district list. Differences over him backing the candidature of Pakkiyaselvam Ariyaenthiran at the presidential election had been resolved, Rasamanickam said, urging the Northern and Eastern electorates to have faith in the ITAK.

Rasamanickam asserted that national parties would find it extremely difficult to win sufficient support among the predominately Tamil speaking electoral divisions (Jaffna, Vanni, Batticaloa, Trincomalee and Digamadulla) to make a difference.

Rasamanickam noted that at the last general election, Angajan Ramanathan entered parliament from Jaffna on the SLFP ticket, the only district that party contested under its own symbol. Ramanathan is now contesting under the ‘post box’ symbol.

The SLFP is not in the fray at the parliamentary election.

Two former prominent LTTE personnel are also in the fray in the East. Karuna Amman and Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pilleyan, both former lawmakers are contesting the Batticaloa district from different political parties. According to Rasamanickam Chandrakanthan is on the TMVP Batticaloa district list whereas Karuna is contesting on the ticket of a political party registered by ex-MP Chathura Senaratne.

Rasamanickam emphasised on the responsibility on the part of the President and the parliament to address the grievances of the Tamil speaking people.

Referring to the conclusion of the conflict in 2009, Rasamanickam said that those who had been at the helm of political power never made a genuine effort to address the issues. Instead they played politics, the Batticaloa district candidate said, urging the electorate to help build a strong opposition against the backdrop of NPP’s repeated urgings that the parliament be filled by its candidates.

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Maldivian President plants a sapling to mark 60 years of Sri Lanka–Maldives Diplomatic Relations

Published

1 hour ago

2026/05/4

Priyan

President of the Maldives, Dr Mohamed Muizzu, who is on a State Visit to Sri Lanka at the invitation of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, planted a sapling this afternoon (04) at Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo to commemorate 60 years of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

Upon arrival at the Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu was warmly received by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Children lined both sides of the pathway holding the national flags of the two countries and paid tribute to the visiting Maldivian President.

Among those present at the occasion were Deputy Speaker Rizvi Salih, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath and the Mayor of Colombo, Vraie Cally Balthazaar, along with several other dignitaries.

[President’s Media Division (PMD)]

News

Sri Lanka and Maldives strengthen ties with productive bilateral talks

Published

1 hour 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

1 hour 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]