Six Tamil-speaking political parties have agreed to work together on issues of common concern and have decided to seek a meeting with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to discuss key matters affecting Tamil-speaking communities, including the long-delayed Provincial Council elections.
The decision was reached during a meeting held in Parliament on Friday (24 July), following an earlier meeting last week in which the parties agreed to establish a common platform for cooperation.
The parties participating in the initiative are the All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC), the Ceylon Workers’ Congress (CWC), the Democratic Tamil National Alliance (DTNA), the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK), the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), and the Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA).
In a joint understanding, the parties reaffirmed their commitment to working collectively on matters affecting Tamil-speaking communities while maintaining their respective political identities, policies, and organisational independence. They said cooperation would be limited to issues where common ground exists, with the aim of advancing the interests of Tamil-speaking communities through constructive engagement.
The representatives also agreed to appoint ITAK Parliamentary Group Leader Shanakiyan Rasamanickam as the coordinator of the alliance.
Following the meeting, the parties formally wrote to President Dissanayake requesting discussions on several issues of national importance concerning Tamil-speaking communities. After meeting the President, they also intend to hold discussions with the Leader of the Opposition and members of the diplomatic community to exchange views on these issues.
The formation of the platform comes amid continued uncertainty over the scheduling of the Provincial Council elections, which have been postponed for several years.
Political observers have suggested that the timing of the alliance may be linked to the anticipated Provincial Council polls. Some have also speculated about possible Indian interest in greater political coordination among Tamil-speaking parties.
As the alliance includes parties that are part of the broader parliamentary opposition, analysts say its emergence could influence opposition electoral dynamics ahead of any future provincial elections, though its political impact remains to be seen.
