COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Six political parties representing Sri Lanka’s Tamil-speaking communities announced on Monday that they had agreed to establish a common platform to coordinate on issues of shared concern, including constitutional reform, long-delayed provincial council elections, and land disputes affecting minority communities.
The announcement came at a joint news conference at the Renuka Hotel in Colombo's Bambalapitiya suburb, where leaders of Tamil, Muslim and Indian Tamil parties stood together to launch a common platform aimed at coordinating action on shared political issues while maintaining their separate party identities.
The initiative brings together the Sri Lanka People’s Congress, the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, the Ceylon Workers’ Congress, the Tamil Progressive Alliance, the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK), and the Democratic Tamil National Alliance (DTNA).
Among those attending the news conference were Rishad Bathiudeen, leader of the Sri Lanka People’s Congress; Rauff Hakeem, leader of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress; the party’s General Secretary, President’s Counsel Nizam Kariapper; Jeevan Thondaman, leader of the Ceylon Workers’ Congress; Mano Ganesan, leader of the Tamil Progressive Alliance; M. A. Sumanthiran, President’s Counsel and General Secretary of ITAK; and Selvam Adaikkalanathan and Surendran Gurusamy, leaders of the Democratic Tamil National Alliance.
In a joint statement titled “Tamil-speaking Political Parties Agree to Establish a Common Platform to Work Together on Matters of Common Concern,” the parties said the new forum would allow them to discuss issues affecting their communities, exchange views, and build consensus on areas where their interests overlap.
The statement emphasized that each party would retain its own political ideology and policy positions. However, it said the platform would serve as a mechanism for identifying common interests and coordinating action where agreement could be reached.
The parties said they had already reached consensus on three priority issues.
First, they called on the government to honour its election pledge to introduce a new Constitution. They said any constitutional reform should guarantee justice, equality, and meaningful devolution of power, while providing for the maximum possible power-sharing arrangements.
Second, the parties expressed concern over continued delays in holding provincial council elections. Although the government had previously indicated that the polls would be held within a year, they urged the administration to conduct the elections without further delay, arguing that they are essential for democratic participation and regional representation.
Third, the parties said longstanding land-related issues continue to affect Sri Lankan Tamils, Indian Tamils and Muslims. They called on the government to engage in meaningful consultations with affected communities and to provide fair and sustainable solutions to those long-standing disputes.
The parties said they would continue discussions through the new forum, expressing hope that coordinated action on shared issues would strengthen reconciliation, democratic governance and the protection of minority rights.
