Sirisena, Rajapaksa compete to deceive Tamil voters, Sampanthan faces criticism

[TamilNet, Sunday, 30 November 2014, 23:36 GMT]
Tamil National Alliance Parliamentary Group Leader R. Sampanthan, who recently assured that the TNA would not take any decision ignoring his own Ilangkai Thamizh Arasuk Kadchi (ITAK) party and the other parties in the Tamil alliance on the issue of SL presidential elections, has again come under criticism from the ITAK structures for deciding to send TNA national list parliamentarian M.A. Sumanthiran to a meeting of the opposition parties, scheduled to take place on Tuesday, ITAK sources told TamilNet Sunday. In the meantime, Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa has been targeting Tamils in the education sector in the North and East inviting different organisations, trade unions and interest groups to Temple Trees seeking votes, informed sources said.

The University Grant Commission and Education Ministry in Colombo are deployed in the move to woo votes through false promises to education sector officials, graduates seeking employment and other interest groups, a representative of the Jaffna University Teachers Union told TamilNet.

The common presidential candidate of the opposition Maithiripala Sirisena has gone on record that he would not allow any international investigation on Sri Lanka if he wins in the elections. Sirisena also went on record stating that he would protect Rajapaksa from any such scrutiny.

It is under these circumstances, the senior leaders and the youth wing of the ITAK have questioned Mr Sampanthan's decision to send Mr Sumanthiran to a meeting by opposition parties organised by Sirisena and Kumaratunga, the ITAK sources further said.

Sampanthan was earlier accused of making a clandestine deal with former SL president Chandrika Kumaratunga on extending support to the common presidential candidate. However, facing criticism from senior ITAK stalwarts and the youth wing of the ITAK together with other parties of the TNA, a decision was made that there would be no haste decision on the subject.

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