Sumanthiran Creating Chaos to Destroy ITAK: A Task Assigned by Sinhala Elites
The Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) is facing a deliberate and dangerous internal crisis—not by accident, but by design. The actions of M. A. Sumanthiran, repeatedly rejected by the Tamil people and defeated within his own party, are now clearly aimed at destabilizing and weakening ITAK from within, in service of Sinhala elite political interests.
Mr. Sumanthiran has no democratic mandate from the Tamil people. He was rejected at the parliamentary elections, removed by party members in leadership contests, and survives politically only through internal manipulation. Yet today, he seeks to exercise authoritarian control over ITAK—an institution far older, stronger, and more principled than any individual.
ITAK is not an ordinary party. It is the historic political voice of Tamil nationalism. It was the first party to demand federalism as a democratic solution to Tamil political marginalization, and in 1977, with a clear people’s mandate, it stood for Tamil Eelam. This legacy cannot be erased, hijacked, or dismantled by internal sabotage. ITAK cannot be destroyed easily—and history has proven this repeatedly.
Unable to command popular support, Mr. Sumanthiran has chosen to manufacture chaos inside the party. His strategy is clear: fracture ITAK, demoralize its base, and weaken Tamil political unity so that external Sinhala-majority forces—particularly the JVP led by Anura Kumara Dissanayake—can benefit electorally in the North and East. This is not reform. This is political wreckage.
The recent attempt to remove Hon. S. Sritharan from the position of Parliamentary Group Leader exposes this agenda unmistakably. Mr. Sritharan was unanimously appointed by the ITAK political committee. His position in the Constitutional Council was not granted by ITAK alone, but by minority parties in Parliament. Therefore, the party has no legitimate authority to force his resignation from that role. This move represents nothing but personal vendetta, political insecurity, and obedience to external pressure.
Mr. Sumanthiran operates from Colombo. He does not live the lived reality of the Tamil homeland. He does not face militarization, land seizure, surveillance, or structural discrimination. Yet he presumes to dictate the political future of a people whose mandate he no longer possesses. His actions reflect alignment with Sinhala elite power structures, not accountability to Tamil aspirations.
If Mr. Sumanthiran believes he has political leadership qualities, he should form his own party in Colombo and seek a mandate from the Sinhala electorate he so clearly prioritizes. He has no right to dismantle Tamil political institutions from within, nor to act as an agent of destabilization against ITAK.
We call upon Tamil party members, civil society, and the diaspora to recognize this moment with clarity and courage. Silence will only enable further erosion of Tamil political autonomy. ITAK belongs to the Tamil people—not to individuals serving personal ambition or Sinhala elite interests.