Beyond individual fame, today’s need is leadership that prioritises the Tamil people’s political rights and political future!

Tamil national politics remains alive in the thoughts and aspirations of the Tamil people living in Sri Lanka’s North and East. Yet the question of whether that Tamil nationalism is moving towards a political goal has become important today.

For someone who emerges from those Tamil communities as their representative, Tamil nationalism must not remain merely a slogan shouted from platforms during election campaigns.

Instead, it must be a continuing political effort to protect the Tamil people’s political rights, land rights, language, livelihoods, historical identity and future political existence.

In the context of a Northern Provincial Council election, choosing a chief ministerial candidate who advances Tamil national politics is therefore more than a decision about one party’s electoral victory. It is an important decision connected to the political future of the people of the Northern Province.

The person selected for that responsibility must consequently be a leader who understands the fundamental principles of Tamil nationalism and can lead in accordance with them, prioritising the Tamil people’s political rights and aspirations, rather than presenting Tamil nationalism merely as an election slogan.

The candidate must hold a clear position on the political rights of the people of the North and East.

They must work consistently on allegations of land appropriation, the issue of enforced disappearances, people’s concerns about militarisation, demands relating to political prisoners and the livelihood problems of the Tamil people.

At the same time, they must understand the powers available to the provincial council and their limits, and present practical plans in fields such as education, health, agriculture, fisheries, employment and local government administration.

Tamil national politics and people’s everyday problems are not opposed to one another. Improving livelihoods and protecting political rights are two parts of the same political responsibility.

One of the major challenges facing Tamil national politics is disagreement and political division between parties.

Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi, the Democratic Tamil National Alliance, the All Ceylon Tamil Congress and other Tamil political forces take different approaches.

This does not mean that those differences should be concealed. Exploring ways to establish common political goals despite them is a historical necessity for the political parties advocating Tamil nationalism in Sri Lanka’s North and East. If Tamil national political forces can create a united programme for the Northern Provincial Council election, the political choices presented to the Tamil people will become clearer.

That unity must not end with the selection of a chief ministerial candidate alone.

Unity Among Tamil National Parties!

There must also be a common programme on the policies to be pursued in the provincial council, positions on power-sharing and people’s economic advancement.

Who Should Be the Chief Ministerial Candidate?

Rather than announcing a particular name in advance, it is more appropriate first to establish the political criteria for choosing the candidate.

The candidate must have a clear policy on Tamil national politics. They must maintain direct contact with the public and possess political and administrative experience. They must be able to understand and address the problems of people across all five districts of the Northern Province.

They must also be able to build agreement between parties, use the provincial council’s powers for the people’s welfare and negotiate with the central government without neglecting the Tamil people’s fundamental rights.

This responsibility must not be decided solely on the basis of personal fame, social media attention or campaign oratory.

The Younger Generation Must Also Be Given a Place!

Tamil national politics cannot rely solely on the experience of the older generation. At the same time, entirely disregarding experienced political leaders is not the right approach either.

Leadership combining experience and new thinking must be created. The views of young people, women, farmers, fishers, entrepreneurs and families affected by war must be included in political decision-making.

When a chief ministerial candidate is proposed, the team working alongside them is important too. Without a team of capable people in education, economics, law, administration and social advancement, an individual alone cannot change the province’s future.

In Conclusion…

Selecting a candidate who advances Tamil nationalism in the Northern Provincial Council election must not become a contest to decide who speaks the most about Tamil nationalism.

The choice must be based on who works consistently for the Tamil people’s political rights, who proposes solutions to their everyday problems and who can create a common programme among Tamil political forces.

Tamil nationalism is neither an election symbol nor the exclusive property of one party. It is a responsibility concerning the Tamil people’s political rights, identity, livelihoods and future.

The Northern Province’s next chief ministerial candidate must be someone prepared to accept and act on that responsibility. Before selecting such a candidate, Tamil national political forces must develop a clear political programme among themselves.

Let us decide the goal before choosing the leader. Let us prioritise the Tamil people’s political future before promoting an individual. That must form the foundation of Tamil national politics in the Northern Provincial Council election.

Swami Shankarananthaa🙏