TNA involved in political doublespeak

By K.T. Rajasingham

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) as usual is involved in a game of political debauchery by allowing M.A. Sumanthiran, the party list MP to participate in the common platform of the opposition camp in support of Maithripala Srisena at Hyde Park ground, at a meeting organised by the Purawesi Balaya (citizen's power) organisation.

TNA leader, R. Sampanthan, attending a meeting organised by the Movement for Social Justice led by Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera, with the former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga and UNP leader Ranil Wickramasinghe in the latter part of July 2014. MP Sumanthiran is seated in the second row behind Ranil.

It was only on the other day Mavai Senathirajah, the President of the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kadchchi told that "We have yet not decided on whom we are going to support or whether we will support any candidate. However, we as the TNA are in consultation with the party branches and the people regarding their opinion. We are also waiting for the manifestos of the presidential candidates to be released before we make a final decision as to who we will support."

On the 25th of last month when the TNA Parliamentarians met to decide about to whom they should support in the Presidential election and subsequently it was reported that they haven't arrived at any decision.

Therefore, without making any public announcement about their position how come Sumanthiran could address a rally in support of Maithripala Srisena?

The Asian Tribune reported, "The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Parliamentary group leader R. Sampanthan had made a deal with former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga on supporting the common opposition candidate Maithiripala Srisena, sources reported.

"Subsequently, the TNA Parliamentarians met on 25th in Colombo and decided not to leak anything of the discussion Sampanthan had with the former President Chandrika Kumaratunga and Opposition Candidate Maithripala Srisena until the appropriate moment.

In the meantime, sources told Asian Tribune that a TNA MP from the Eastern has told at the yesterday's TNA meeting - the cost of political campaign in favour of the opposition presidential candidate in the East might be something around Rs.300 million.

The cost of the political campaign in North has not been disclosed, a source who wishes to remain anonymous told Asian Tribune.

Asian Tribune learnt that TNA would demand Rs. 1 billion from the Opposition candidate's camp for campaign expenses in the North and East. It is also learnt that TNA received almost Rs.1 billion for campaigning on behalf of former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka at the last Presidential election.

Even Suresh Premachandran, the TNA spokesperson has said in another interview that, "TNA has not decided on its stance on the Presidential polls.

According to Premachandran, the Alliance will definitely take a stand acceptable to the Tamil people at the forthcoming presidential polls. "We are awaiting till the nomination papers are submitted on December 8. After that we will study the manifestos of the candidates before taking our decision," he said.

This is the doublespeak of the TNA. They allow Sumanthiran to appear at a meeting at Hyde Park, organised by the Purawesi Balaya (Citizen's Power) organisation to support Maithripala Srisena's candidature, but continue to lie as they have not taken any decision.

Courtesy: Asian Tribune