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ITAK: TNA can be revived if DTNA falls in line
Illankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) spokesperson and secretary M. A. Sumanthiran, PC, has said that the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) could be revived if the Democratic Tamil National Alliance (DTNA) agrees to ITAK’s proposed political position.
The former lawmaker said so in Vavuniya recently following a full-day meeting of ITAK’s Central Working Committee.
Tamil Guardian
on Monday (10) quoted Sumanthiran as having said that the meeting ran from 10 a.m. into the evening at the party’s Vavuniya office, where members held extensive discussions with ITAK parliamentarians on the upcoming budget. The ex-MP outlined the parliamentary schedule, noting that the Sri Lankan President, acting as Minister of Finance, will present the 2026 Budget on 07 November, with the second reading and vote scheduled for the 14th, followed by the committee stage and third reading.
He told reporters that ITAK had not adopted a final stance on the budget and that the Parliamentary Group and Political Committee would make a joint decision once the government tables its proposals.
Sumanthiran said the meeting also covered ITAK’s recent conversations with other Tamil parties. He confirmed that the ITAK leadership had held several rounds of talks with the DTNA and formally conveyed the party’s position. If the DTNA agrees, he said, “there is still the possibility of functioning jointly again as the TNA.”
The Central Working Committee authorised extending an invitation to the DTNA to pursue unity.
The party also discussed potential engagement with the Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF). Sumanthiran said ITAK had resolved to call on all Tamil parties to act together and attempt to build a shared position on a political solution.
He noted that ITAK was informed that party member Sathyalingam had recently met TNPF leader Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam in Switzerland. A key question, Sumanthiran said, was whether all Tamil parties could now present a unified proposal to the Sri Lankan government.
He added that the last formal proposal submitted by the TNA was to the administration of Gotabaya Rajapaksa. ITAK would circulate that proposal to other Tamil parties, and if consensus is reached, it could serve as a common negotiating position.
Sumanthiran also said ITAK had sought a meeting with Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to discuss a political settlement. In line with a previous Central Working Committee resolution, a 10-member delegation — the party leader, Sumanthiran, and eight MPs — had been appointed to meet the President.
A formal request was sent but went undelivered due to the President’s travel to the UN General Assembly. A follow-up letter was issued upon his return, but no response had been received.
Commenting on Sri Lankan politics, Sumanthiran said ITAK had not been invited to a joint Opposition rally scheduled for 21 November and would not attend. He added that the party remained open to cooperating with other opposition formations on specific issues such as the immediate holding of Provincial Council elections and the repeal of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), but would not join a broader opposition alliance.
The Sri Lanka Navy rescued a fisherman from a local fishing trawler that encountered distress due to adverse weather conditions off the eastern coast of Sri Lanka.
The rescue operation took place on 17 July 2026, approximately 15 nautical miles off Pothuvil. The operation was launched following information received by the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) Colombo.
In response, the Sri Lanka Navy deployed the Offshore Patrol Vessel SLNS Vijayabahu along with additional craft to conduct a search operation in the designated sea area, where they successfully located the distressed fisherman.
Following the rescue, the individual was brought aboard SLNS Vijayabahu, where naval personnel administered preliminary first aid. He was subsequently brought to the mainland and rushed for further medical attention.
Meanwhile, the Navy, along with the coordination of MRCC Colombo, remains constantly prepared to swiftly respond to the eventualities faced by maritime and fishing communities operating within the island’s Search and Rescue Region (SRR).
The countrywide dengue outbreak has intensified, with the death toll rising to 50, by July 16, as the number of reported infections surpassed 73,000, according to the National Dengue Control Unit (NDCU).
The country has recorded 73,455 dengue cases so far this year, with the case fatality rate standing at 0.07 percent, highlighting the severity of the ongoing outbreak.
The Western Province continues to remain the worst affected region, accounting for more than half of the total cases, with 38,700 infections. The Gampaha District has recorded the highest number of cases in the province with 15,341, followed closely by Colombo with 14,625.
The Southern Province has reported 11,382 cases, while the Sabaragamuwa and Central provinces have each recorded more than 6,000 infections.
Dengue cases have shown a sharp increase in recent months, with June recording the highest monthly total of 21,538 cases, while July has already reported 18,076 infections. In comparison, 8,590 cases were reported in May, and 5,651 in April.
Health authorities have identified 175 Medical Officer of Health (MOH) areas as high-risk locations during the 27th epidemiological week. An average of 2,677 new dengue cases are being reported daily, prompting authorities to intensify prevention and mosquito control measures.
The Colombo High Court yesterday (17) resumed hearing the money laundering case filed against Yoshitha Rajapaksa, son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
The proceedings were held before High Court Judge Udesh Ranatunga, where evidence was recorded from prosecution witnesses, under the direction of Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara.
President’s Counsel Sampath Mendis, appearing for Yoshitha Rajapaksa, cross-examined the witnesses during the hearing.
After recording evidence, the court ordered that further examination of evidence be postponed until July 24.
The Attorney General has filed indictments, alleging that Yoshitha Rajapaksa committed an offence, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, by purchasing five plots of land in Dehiwala and Ratmalana, valued at more than Rs. 73 million.
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Showers may occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Kandy, Nuwara-Eliya, Galle and Matara districts
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