Anura Has Fulfilled None of His Promises: Leaders of Tamil National Parties

13-Sep-2026

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Leaders of Tamil national parties have accused President Anura Kumara Dissanayake of failing to fulfil any of the promises he made during his two years in office and of not even taking meaningful steps towards fulfilling them. Instead, they alleged that moves aimed at retaining powers within the Government and consolidating a one-party system of governance have intensified.

A protest fast organised by the Democratic Tamil National Alliance against the Government of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake for failing to fulfil the promises made to the Tamil people was held on Sept 12 in Chavakachcheri from 8.00 a.m. until the evening.

The protest was attended by C. V. K. Sivagnanam, President of the Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi, M. A. Sumanthiran, its General Secretary, and others. Selvam Adaikalanathan, a Member of Parliament and partner leader of the Democratic Tamil National Alliance, as well as former Members of Parliament Suresh Premachandran, Murugesu Chandrakumar and Sivashakti Anandan, former Provincial Council members P. Kajatheepan, K. Sayantan and K. Sarveswaran, representatives of local authorities and civil society organisations, political party supporters and members of the public also participated.

The protest was held with several demands, including justice for the disappeared; an international investigation into the Chemmani mass grave; the immediate cessation of the Praja Shakthi system in a manner that affects the functioning of local authorities; the immediate release and return to their rightful owners of all lands currently held by the military; the release of political prisoners; the repeal of the Prevention of Terrorism Act; and the holding of Provincial Council elections.

Addressing the gathering, Selvam Adaikalanathan, leader of the TNA partner party TELO, stated that the protest had exposed very clearly that, during the past two years, the Anura Government had been attempting to satisfy the Sinhala people in order to retain political power. He said the Government had refused to grant the basic rights of the Tamil people while strategically and ostensibly taking actions that hurt their sentiments.

“We cannot live with our heads held high after losing our lands. Our people are demanding an international investigation. Justice has not been delivered in relation to the mass graves. We cannot accept the Government ignoring our problems while attempting to satisfy the Sinhala people,” he said.

Suresh Premachandran, leader and media spokesperson of the EPRLF, a partner party of the Democratic Tamil National Alliance, stated that although the National People's Power was said to be in government, it was in reality the JVP that was exercising power.

He said that if the commitments given by the Anura-led group before assuming office had been fulfilled within two years, there would have been no reason for continuing protests in areas such as Thaiyiddy, Mayiliddy, Palaly and Valikamam. However, the Government had failed to do so.

Instead, he alleged, the Government was attempting to govern through the Governor by appointing and using the Praja Shakthi mechanism to paralyse local authorities and a select committee under the pretext of changing the electoral system for Provincial Councils.

They had promised that Anura's administration would bring about change. Instead of changes taking place, problems were increasing further and further. Therefore, the Tamil people had clearly demonstrated through this protest that the Anura Government had made no meaningful changes, he said.

Murugesu Chandrakumar, General Secretary of the Samathuwa Party, a partner party of the Democratic Tamil National Alliance, stated that those who came to power on the slogan of abolishing executive power had begun enjoying its enormous power as soon as they occupied office. They also possessed a parliamentary majority.

He further stated that the JVP was fundamentally rooted in Sinhala nationalism. Therefore, he said, it would be foolish to believe that those representing the combined face of all these forces would provide a just solution to the Tamil people's concerns.

C. V. K. Sivagnanam, President of the Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi, stated that during its two years in office, the Government of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake had not even properly provided opportunities to discuss the key problems faced by the Tamil people.

For example, he said, the Provincial Council elections were being repeatedly delayed under the pretext of extending the relevant period. He further stated that the Government was placing emphasis on the idea that everyone was Sri Lankan, thereby promoting an approach under which other communities would have to lose their distinct ethnic identities.

In this regard, he openly stated that the Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi and the Democratic Tamil National Alliance were working together on issues concerning the Tamil people.

M. A. Sumanthiran, President's Counsel, General Secretary and media spokesperson of the Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi, stated:

Those who were a third force at the last election and have now come to power have taken action against the rulers of the past. That is a welcome development. However, those who have acted so vigorously and courageously in that regard have not even touched upon any issue concerning the Tamil people.

When I met people who had come from Palaly, they told me, “Sir, we did not vote for you. We voted for this Government.”

When I asked why they had done so, they said that this Government had promised to release their lands.

How difficult is it to release the lands? Did anyone oppose it? Did anyone in the South oppose it? No. It is something that can easily be done. But we strongly condemn the fact that, instead of releasing the lands that form the foundation of our people's lives, the Government is continuing with other matters.

The Government has said that 700 acres of land would be released. When we asked them to identify those lands, all of them turned out to be lands that had already been released in 2024. They are saying that they are going to release lands that were released two years ago. It is similar to the situation in which the 613-metre stretch of road that had already been released before the parliamentary election was released again.

President Anura has now said that, regarding the release of land, he must ask the military. When he was with us in the Opposition, he shouted that the lands must be released. At that time, he did not say that the military had to be asked.

The first promise in Anura's election manifesto was to formulate a new Constitution. That matter has not even been touched upon so far.

However, they are proceeding with the 22nd Amendment, despite the leaders of the Buddhist clergy themselves saying that it should not be done. Anura, who has the courage to proceed with such a measure, is now unable to introduce the private member's Bill that would abolish the executive presidential system.

Therefore, I stated at the memorial lecture for the late A. Amirthalingam that they were taking steps to transform their administration into a one-party government.

There is currently no power-sharing. Instead, steps are being taken to retain powers within themselves.

The second promise was to hold Provincial Council elections within one year. So far, no meaningful progress has been made in this regard. There is only continued delay.

We are fighting only for five matters. We are not fighting for bribery and corruption or for any personal interests. We fully support all five demands. We will speak with the parties regarding the people's problems and continue our struggle, he said.