Tamil National Council’s Joint Initiative Will Never Be Stopped: Gajendrakumar

22-Apr-2026

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The meeting held by the Tamil National Council (TNC) on February 15 had been planned in advance. In accordance with the decisions taken at that meeting, a 28-member Steering Committee of the Eelam Tamil Constitution-Making People’s Assembly has been appointed. There is no need for secrecy in any matter that determines the destiny of the Tamil people. Therefore, this joint initiative led by the TNC will never be stopped, TNC Leader Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam stated.

Two meetings organised by the Tamil Lawyers Forum in Colombo on March 2 and April 9, aimed at bringing Tamil nationalist political parties to a common stance on resolving the ethnic issue and constitutional reform, saw participation from party representatives and resulted in certain common understandings.

Against this backdrop, Dr. T. Vigneswaran, Coordinator of the Eelam Tamil Constitution-Making People’s Assembly, issued a statement on April 17 noting that the February 15 meeting had decided to draft a joint Tamil political proposal for a solution to the ethnic issue and to appoint a 28-member steering committee consisting of political leaders, civil society representatives, and experts to guide related activities.

Subsequently, on Saturday (18), the Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) sent a letter to the Tamil Lawyers Forum stating that while Tamil parties had agreed not to engage individually with the government until a common agreement is reached, the statement issued by the TNC could disrupt unity efforts. ITAK asked whether continuing the process while the All Ceylon Tamil Congress was acting independently could produce meaningful results.

Addressing a media briefing in Colombo on April 21, Ponnambalam clarified:

At the meetings organised by the Tamil Lawyers Forum, agreement was reached on the framework of a political solution to the ethnic issue. It was also agreed that until a unified stance is reached among parties on the political solution to be included in a new constitution, no party should move forward with the government independently.

Meanwhile, the February 15 meeting held by the TNC with civil society had already been planned. The 28-member steering committee was appointed according to the decision taken at that meeting. Although it was planned to appoint the committee within two weeks, the process was delayed because some individuals invited to join took time to respond.

Therefore, ITAK’s claim that the meeting was held to disrupt the closed-door discussion scheduled for February 19 under the coordination of the Swiss Embassy is entirely false. Our stance is that secrecy is unnecessary in any matter affecting the destiny of the Tamil people. Hence, this initiative will never be halted.

He further stated that during a meeting with members of the Tamil Lawyers Forum the previous day, these matters were clarified. He also pointed out that at the April 9 meeting, only Attorney N. Kandeepan was allowed to participate on behalf of his party, and no opportunity was provided to consult him or party members regarding the decisions. Therefore, they could not accept the decisions announced by the forum as common resolutions.