Selvam Fears Alternative Committee Proposal Could Undermine Unity Efforts

26-Apr-2026

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Democratic Tamil National Alliance MP Selvam Adaikkalanathan has expressed concern that the Tamil National Council’s proposal to form an alternative committee to examine a political solution for Tamils could weaken the unity initiative currently led by the Tamil Lawyers Forum.

He noted that the Tamil Lawyers Forum had organised two meetings in Colombo on 2 March and 9 April, aimed at bringing Tamil nationalist political parties to a common position on the ethnic issue and constitutional reform. Representatives of Tamil nationalist parties participated, and common understandings were reached.

However, based on a meeting held by the Tamil National Council on 15 February, it was decided to appoint a 28-member steering committee under the “Eelam Tamil Constitution Drafting People’s Assembly,” consisting of political leaders, civil society representatives and experts, to prepare a draft proposal and lead related activities. A statement in this regard was issued on 17 April by the Assembly’s coordinator Dr. T. Vigneswaran.

Commenting on the development, Selvam Adaikkalanathan said that such an alternative committee proposal would not contribute to unity and may instead disrupt the Tamil Lawyers Forum’s ongoing efforts.

He further warned that an increasingly dangerous situation is developing in the Northern and Eastern Provinces, and if Tamil nationalist parties fail to unite, the North and East could fall into the hands of other groups.