COLOMBO, Sri Lanka —Representatives of the six Tamil-speaking political parties, who announced last month their decision to work together to advance the interests of Tamil-speaking people, are scheduled to hold separate meetings on Monday (Aug. 3) with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa
The six parties — the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK), the All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC), the Ceylon Workers' Congress (CWC), the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), the Democratic Tamil National Alliance (DTNA), and the Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) — had agreed to work together constructively on matters where common ground can be reached, while preserving their respective independence, policies, and political positions, with the welfare of Tamil-speaking people as their shared priority.
As a continuation of that initiative, the parties formally requested a meeting with the President to discuss a range of national issues affecting Tamil-speaking communities.
Against that backdrop, representatives of the six parties are scheduled to meet President Dissanayake at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo at 10 a.m. on Monday.
During the meeting, the parties are expected to place particular emphasis on three key issues: the drafting of a new Constitution, the immediate holding of the long-delayed Provincial Council elections, and the release of lands in the Northern and Eastern Provinces that remain under military occupation.
The discussions are also expected to cover housing and livelihood assistance for the up-country Tamil community, the repeal of the Prevention of Terrorism Act, the release of political prisoners, and measures to ensure truth and accountability for enforced disappearances, among other matters.
Later in the day, at 3:30 p.m., representatives of the six parties are scheduled to meet Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa at the Office of the Opposition Leader in Colombo. They are expected to discuss the same range of issues concerning the welfare and political aspirations of Tamil-speaking people.
