Hold Talks with Tamil Representatives, Tamil Leaders Urge

05-Jan-2026

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Tamil leaders have urged the government to engage with Tamil representatives before advancing proposals for a new Constitution, particularly regarding solutions for Tamil political grievances.

Justice and National Integration Minister Harshana Nanayakkara recently stated that preliminary work on constitutional reform would begin this month and that the long-standing ethnic issue would be addressed through a new Constitution. He called on Tamil political actors to move beyond allegations and submit constructive policy-based proposals.

Responding, EPRLF leader and spokesperson for the Democratic Tamil National Alliance, Suresh Premachandran, stressed that numerous solutions have already been proposed over the years and insisted that the government must first consult Tamil representatives.

He warned that past governments ignored Tamil concerns and that constitutions were largely drafted to favor the majority community. He questioned whether the new Constitution would once again be imposed without Tamil consent and whether promises such as abolishing the executive presidency would be honored.

PLOTE leader and former MP Dharmalingam Siddharthan expressed skepticism about any positive outcome, citing the historical actions of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, the core party of the ruling National People’s Power alliance.

While a constitution incorporating a fair and acceptable solution through transparent dialogue would be welcome, both leaders said they do not expect such an outcome in the current political climate.