All Parties Must Apply Pressure for Provincial Council Elections and New Constitution: Suresh Premachandran

03-Mar-2026

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Suresh Premachandran, Media Spokesperson of the Democratic Tamil National Alliance, has emphasized that all parties bear responsibility for exerting strong pressure to hold Provincial Council elections immediately and to commence the process of drafting a new Constitution.

He also stressed the need for Tamil political parties to work collectively on this matter.

He made these remarks while delivering a special address at a commemoration and book launch event marking the first death anniversary of senior journalist Bharathi Rajanayagam. The event was jointly organized by the Tamil Journalists’ Association and the London and Sri Lanka Tamil Literary Institute and was held at the Colombo Tamil Sangam on March 1.

Premachandran stated that although the National People’s Power government came to power promising structural change, it remains to be seen whether it will implement constructive reforms. However, he noted that discussions had taken place regarding the possibility of structural change among Tamil nationalist parties.

He observed that the demand for immediate Provincial Council elections is being voiced not only by Tamil parties but also by sections of the Sinhala community. Nevertheless, the government has decided not to hold elections at present and has appointed a Parliamentary Select Committee to examine the Provincial Council electoral system, which he suggested may be a delaying tactic.

He further alleged that by appointing Members of Parliament as “shadow ministers” for Provincial Councils, the government is attempting to render the Provincial Council system inactive. Therefore, he reiterated that all parties must apply pressure to ensure that elections are held without delay.

Regarding a political solution for the Tamil community, he stated that Tamil parties did not oppose proposals put forward by previous governments; rather, those who introduced them later withdrew them. He emphasized the urgent need to discuss the creation of a constructive and inclusive new Constitution.

He added that several Tamil nationalist parties are currently working together under the Democratic Tamil National Alliance and that they are also collaborating on certain matters with the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi. Such united efforts should be encouraged first, and other parties should subsequently be brought into that unity process, he said.