The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees

¶ 01 The Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan

¶ 02 Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees, on the condolence motion regarding former Members of Parliament, including the late Hon. Rajavarothiam Sampanthan — former Leader of the Opposition and former MP — the late Hon. A. Pilapitiya, the late Hon. W.B. Ekanayake, the late Hon. Lucky Jayawardena, and the late Hon. (Mrs.) Malini Fonseka, I am grateful for the opportunity to speak.

¶ 03 After the long war, when Tamils stood politically orphaned, the late Hon. R. Sampanthan provided leadership, guiding Tamil politics forward. Even one year after his passing, we feel deeply the void in the Tamil national political sphere.

¶ 04 Born in the Tamil capital Trincomalee on 5 February 1933, Hon. Sampanthan began his education at St. Joseph’s Tamil School in Trincomalee and later studied at St. Patrick’s College, Jaffna; St. Anne’s College, Kurunegala; and St. Sebastian’s College, Moratuwa. He completed legal studies at the Colombo Law College and began his professional life as an attorney. Joining the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) in 1956 at the age of 23, he embarked on a lifelong political journey.

¶ 05 He went on to serve as Joint Treasurer, Vice President, and General Secretary of the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF), became Leader of the ITAK, and later led the Tamil National Alliance (TNA). He was Leader of the Opposition of the 14th Parliament from 3 September 2015 to 18 December 2018. Through the war years and in the 14 years of political vacuum from 2010 to 2024, his statesmanship laid the foundation and pathway for the Tamil national political journey.

¶ 06 After 21 years within ITAK, he first entered Parliament in 1977 contesting Trincomalee under the TULF ticket. Following the Sixth Amendment to the Constitution, TULF MPs, including Mr. Sampanthan, lost their seats on 7 September 1983 after refusing to take the oath renouncing separatism and boycotting sittings for three months in protest against the July 1983 pogrom in which over 3,000 Tamils were killed and properties destroyed.

¶ 07 After the demise of MP A. Thangathurai, he was reappointed an MP for Trincomalee in 1997. As TNA leader from 20 October 2001, he won subsequent General Elections in 2001, 2004, 2010, 2015, and 2020, consistently representing the Trincomalee District.

¶ 08 Beyond being an MP, his leadership as a national Tamil statesman was notable. He represented the Tamil side at the 1984 All Parties Round Table Conference and the 1985 Thimpu Talks, held discussions with Indian leaders including Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, and engaged with Indian and international diplomats on constitutional reforms, the Thirteenth Amendment’s deficiencies, and provincial devolution. He played a role, with the late Dr. Neelan Tiruchelvam, in drafting the “Union of Regions” proposal toward a permanent political solution.

¶ 09 He led Tamil party delegations in 14 rounds of talks with successive Sri Lankan governments between 2010–2015, and all talks during 2015–2019 under the so‑called “good governance” administration. His diplomatic, steady leadership guided the Tamil national political movement through uncertainty and kept it engaged with the international community, particularly on accountability for mass atrocities and a durable political settlement.

¶ 10 A man of simplicity, integrity, and moral politics, his passing is an irreparable loss to two generations of Eelam Tamils, and for those of us who followed his political guidance. As one who follows his path, I will sincerely work to secure the continuity of ITAK and the Tamil national political rights. I record these memories, extend condolences to his family, and pray for the repose of his soul.

¶ 11 I also remember with respect the former Members Hon. A. Pilapitiya, Hon. W.B. Ekanayake, Hon. Lucky Jayawardena, and Hon. (Mrs.) Malini Fonseka. I recall Hon. Malini Fonseka as a great actress — I watched “Pilot Premnath” with Sivaji Ganesan in my childhood — and remember the days we served together in Parliament. I convey my deepest sympathies to the families of all the late Members. May their souls rest in peace.