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Mavai elected as ITAK’s new leader
View(s):Tamil National Alliance National List Parliamentarian Mavai Senathirajah was elected as the new leader of the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi — the main constituent party of the TNA — at its annual convention in Vavuniya yesterday.
Prior to being elected to the post, which had been held by TNA Leader Rajavarothayam Sampanthan since 2004, the 72-year-old Senathirajah served as the General Secretary of the party.
All smiles: Mavai Senathirajah and supporters after he was elected as ITAK leader. Pic by Priyantha Hewage
Addressing the convention, Mr. Sampanthan, 81, said Mr. Senathirajah was best suited to lead the party and had enough experience to take on the mantle of the ITAK leadership.
Mr. Senathirajah told the gathering that a 15-point plan of action to take the party forward would be announced today, the final day of the convention, which was attended by MPs, Provincial Council and local council members of the party. The ITAK, also known as the Federal Party, was founded in 1949 by S.J.V. Chelvanayakam, C. Vanniasingam and Senator E. M. V. Naganathan after they broke away from the All Ceylon Tamil Congress.
Party sources said Mr. Sampanthan would continue to lead the TNA and serve as its Parliamentary group leader.
At yesterday’s convention, Eastern Provincial Council member E. Thurairajasingham was elected as the General Secretary of the ITAK while Pon Selvarasa and Prof. S.K. Chittambalam were elected as senior deputy leaders
Mr. Senathraja considered a hardliner, wanted the party to nominate him as the chief ministerial candidate for the Northern Provincial council elections last year.
He was a National List MP of the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) between 1989 and 1994, and again between 1999 and 2000 following the assassinations of Appapillai Amirthalingam and Neelan Tiruchelvam respectively.