Tamil-speaking political parties to meet President on August 3

30-Jul-2026

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A meeting between representatives of six Tamil-speaking political parties and President Anura Kumara Dissanayake will be held in Colombo on August 3, following a request made by the parties that announced their decision earlier this month to work together.

The six Tamil-speaking political parties, namely the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK), All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC), Ceylon Workers’ Congress (CWC), Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), Democratic Tamil National Alliance (DTNA), and Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA), had agreed to cooperate constructively on matters where common agreement could be reached while maintaining their individual identities, policies and political positions.

As a continuation of this initiative, representatives of the parties had officially requested an appointment with the President to discuss several issues of national importance affecting Tamil-speaking communities.

Accordingly, representatives of the six parties have been granted an opportunity to meet President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on August 3.

During the meeting, discussions are expected to focus on several key concerns affecting Tamil-speaking communities, including the release of political prisoners, the return of lands acquired by security forces in the Northern and Eastern Provinces, housing and livelihood requirements of the plantation Tamil community, conducting long-delayed provincial council elections, repealing the Prevention of Terrorism Act, implementing Article 16(A) of the Constitution and all constitutional provisions relating to the Official Languages Policy.

The parties are also expected to discuss ending militarisation in the Northern and Eastern Provinces and ensuring truth and accountability regarding enforced disappearances, along with other issues of concern to Tamil-speaking communities.