Tamil parties must work together on common demands, Premachandran says

Democratic Tamil National Alliance (DTNA) Co-Leader Suresh Premachandran has called for greater cooperation among Tamil political parties, saying the demands of the Tamil people can only be advanced through collective action.

Premachandran said the DTNA and the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) had held discussions over the past six months and agreed to meet monthly to identify common positions on issues affecting the Tamil community.

He stressed that the talks were not aimed at forming an electoral alliance, but at developing a common approach on issues where the parties could reach agreement.

“The message conveyed to us by the Tamil diaspora and at diplomatic level is that we can achieve results only when we stand together,” he said.

Premachandran said the two parties had also agreed to coordinate their work in local authorities under their control, particularly on priority projects and financial matters.

He said Tamil political parties should focus on the broader interests and future of the community rather than remain divided.

The effective exercise of powers under the Provincial Council system was particularly important, he said, identifying education, health, land and police powers as areas where Tamil parties needed to develop common positions.

Premachandran said discussions with the ITAK would also focus on land-related concerns and other issues facing Tamil communities.