The Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan

¶ 01 [1.27 p.m.]

¶ 02 Hon. Presiding Member, on today’s Votes of Condolence for former MPs Hon. Kosala Nuwan Jayaweera, Hon. Mavai S. Senathirajah, Hon. Donald Dissanayake and Hon. J.R.P. Suriyapperuma, I first honour Hon. Mavai S. Senathirajah, Leader of ITAK and a great leader who journeyed far for Tamil national freedom. I welcome his family members present and students from Murusumoddai Murugananda College, Kilinochchi.

¶ 03 Born in Maviddapuram, educated at Veemankamam and Nadeswara Colleges, he studied externally at Peradeniya and later at Annamalai University. From his youth, he devoted himself to Tamil liberation, joining the TULF at 19 and aligning with the Tamil national movement. He participated in the 1961 satyagraha arising from resistance to “Sinhala Only,” beginning his struggle life, then served as a youth leader in the TULF and Tamil Youth Front, and was detained by the State for seven years across several prisons (1969–1983).

¶ 04 After Amirthalingam’s assassination, he entered Parliament via the National List in 1989, and again after Dr. Neelan Tiruchelvam’s assassination (1999), and then was elected in 2000. He was a voice for Tamil rights inside and outside Parliament, including in Geneva, and worked tirelessly for peace initiatives after the war despite setbacks from the State’s post-war stance and Sinhala-Buddhist majoritarianism. He rooted ITAK in Kilinochchi as well, broadened youth and women’s participation, and ensured the continuity of Tamil nationalism to the next generation.

¶ 05 He believed Tamils must become a mass movement and strong nation to avoid being mere petitioners. We, his followers, must continue to strengthen ITAK alongside nationalists and volunteers to advance Tamil liberation—this is the highest tribute.

¶ 06 On 28 November 2001, during wartime, he survived a murderous attack at Narantanai–Thampaddy allegedly by an armed group aligned to Douglas Devananda; two were killed and many injured, including Mr. Sivajilingam and a Grama Niladhari. He also once survived severe army assault at Anaikkoddai. His life was one of service to people and their wellbeing. We convey deep condolences to his family and to all other families of the departed, and conclude.