The TNAs double standards together with the UNP, have only hurt Sri Lankan Tamils

Sri Lanka is a country with a rich history but also a dark past. 

This beautiful nation has seen two insurgencies, one in 1971 and the other in 1987, by the then JVP faction which killed and wounded thousands, followed by a 30 year LTTE terrorism which left us devastated. Our generations were born during the war and the memories of the bombings, the sacrifices made by the soliders, the fear, the economic collapse, unemployment, sufferings etc, are still very fresh in our minds.

Today 10 years since the end of the conflict against the LTTE, we are still trying to heal, and we cannot forget that the community which suffered the highest brunt of the insurgecy and the conflict were Sri Lankan Tamils, especially those residing in the north. Hundreds of Tamils fled the country and those residing especially in the north lost very much and 10 years later they continue to need our help to recover.

The Tamil National Alliance, which claims to be the voice of Sri Lankan Tamils have not done much especially in the north. I have on several occassions visited the northern district, during the previous government and within these past four years under the UNP government, and their suffering under this government is immense. In a united voice, their biggest complaint is that they have been ignored within these past four years and the only development they have seen within their district was during the previous Mahinda Rajapaksa government.

Infact, today I am writing this article while I’m in the north, not just for election campaigning, but also to continue listening to the troubles of the public here and help them in whatever way possible. Infact, it is shocking to see that the TNA, despite being seated in Parliament, have failed to work for the Tamils, especially in the north and have been working hand in glove with the UNP since 2015 only for their own gain.

The northern economy is severely weak. Agro,fisheries and home based employment have faced severe blows and unemployment is rampant. Infact if urgent steps are not taken, it is likely to trigger social unrest in the area.

More over, the Jaffna International Airport, which was haphazardly and very hurriedly declared open by the UNP last month, and the Killinochci sports complex which has been ill maintained since its opening, exposes the disrespect that the UNP and TNA have for the Tamil people. The airport is not of international standards and comes to a halt everytime it rains due to the runway being flooded and it’s posing a grave threat to any airline. The Killinochchi Sports complex has a swimming pool filled with moss and has not been maintained for the children to use.

For 4 years, the TNA have only been bowing to the whims and fancies of the UNP who we all know have been the worst government this nation has had to date. Infact the only agenda the TNA have had since 2015 is working for their own individual gains and many of its MPs have failed to even visit the common man in the north to address their issues. 

This was evident when a group of people protested against TNA members, when the party held their central committee meeting last Sunday in Vavuniya. Protestors said the TNA had failed, with this government, to trace their loved ones who went missing during the war and when the TNA leaders attempted to leave the area without meeting these Tamil people, they were trying to attack. Later these same TNA members said these group of protestors had no ‘missing people’ which makes us question, then why the TNA keeps claiming there were several missing people in the north to which the Rajapaksas have to be blamed for.

It is disappointing that despite having great economic potential, the north has remained as one of the most under developed provinces under the UNP, whose ministers were busy covering up the bond scam, misleading the public with exaggerated FDIs and sorting the power struggles within them. 

Today, the TNA has once again pledged its support to NDP Presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa despite publicly declaring in 2017, that the Sri Lankan Tamil people were losing its patience with the UNP government. Obviously patience was running thin, when Ministers such as Mr Sajith Premadasa virtually did nothing to assist the people of the north despite being the Minister of Housing for 4 years. Infact today the TNA declaring its support to Mr Premadasa is questionable as to whether there has been a financial transaction involved as they seem to have clearly ignored the fact that Mr. Premadasa is the son of Ranasingha Premadasa who was the Prime Minister at the time of the JVP insurgency when Sri Lankan Tamils were tortured and killed, and who was later blamed for not taking any action to prevent the clashes.

The TNA, being the so called voice of the Tamil party seems to have forgotten all what they stand for. 

What is even more shocking is that TNA MPs such as M.A Sumanthiran, after declaring their support to Mr Premadasa openly admitted that their decision was made based on who should be defeated and who should not win. Not for any other reason. Mr. Sumanthiran’s justification is nothing but absurd exposing their cunning ways in which they mislead the Tamil people by falsely assuring them they would work for their betterment but instead make decisions based on their personal egos.

It is high time the TNA stop their false pretense of caring for the Tamils because they are far from that. Sri Lankan citizens in whole have no future under the UNP or parties such as the TNA who have their personal agendas to work for and show no patriotism towards the nation.

Such parties should prepare for their defeat because from where I am seatd today, in the heart of the north, people are desperate for a change and want a better life. 

Change is about to come on Nov. 16. Vote wisely.