In a massive show of political engagement, over a thousand Eelam Tamils have been running for election across the North-East, ahead of Sri Lanka’s parliamentary polls in just a few hours time. In Jaffna and Vanni alone, more than 800 candidates from hundreds of political parties are standing for just 12 seats. In the East, more than 1,200 candidates are vying for their 16 seats. The surge in candidates wanting to represent the Tamil homeland is most certainly welcome. It is not a sign of division within the electorate, as some may suggest. Instead, it reflects the desire for the fresh representation of Tamil interests, an appetite for much-awaited change and a politically savvy electorate. With Tamil aspirations still unmet and the failure of parties that have represented the region for decades, this week marks a new chapter for Tamil politics.
Illustration by Keera Ratnam / wavesofcolour
In a massive show of political engagement, over a thousand Eelam Tamils have been running for election across the North-East, ahead of Sri Lanka’s parliamentary polls in just a few hours time. In Jaffna and Vanni alone, more than 800 candidates from hundreds of political parties are standing for just 12 seats. In the East, more than 1,200 candidates are vying for their 16 seats. The surge in candidates wanting to represent the Tamil homeland is most certainly welcome. It is not a sign of division within the electorate, as some may suggest. Instead, it reflects the desire for the fresh representation of Tamil interests, an appetite for much-awaited change and a politically savvy electorate. With Tamil aspirations still unmet and the failure of parties that have represented the region for decades, this week marks a new chapter for Tamil politics.
For years, particularly since the 2009 Mullivaikkal genocide, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and its key constituent, the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK), dominated the Tamil political landscape, positioning themselves as the custodians of Tamil aspirations. They had the legacy of the LTTE behind them and grassroots that continued to espouse Tamil nationalist positions. But over 15 years since the end of the armed struggle, Tamils have long-grown disillusioned by the failure of these political leaders to make any tangible gains. Many more are angered by the frequent willingness of Tamil politicians to capitulate to Colombo on key nationalist stances. As the students at Jaffna University said earlier this year, the Tamil people have long felt abandoned. Discontent is rife.
But with the disintegration of the TNA, the death of party stalwart Sampanthan and infighting continuing to plague ITAK, there is now a space for alternative voices and a search for fresh leadership. Candidates across the North-East, from a range of political parties including some which are newly formed, are seizing this opportunity to make the case that they are best positioned to speak for Tamil interests. A vast range of voices have come to the fore – from former LTTE cadres to social activists, doctors, teachers and more. This diversity and soaring level of participation is a positive sign. Individuals across the electorate are still politically engaged and eager to represent the Tamil nation on the very frontline of politics.
Though an array of candidates are running, almost all of them have similar stances when it comes to pledges of justice, accountability, and self-determination—core pillars of Tamil nationalism. In recent weeks many have sought to demonstrate their commitment to the Tamil cause openly, visiting the cemeteries of LTTE fighters or paying tribute to the victims of the Mullivaikkal genocide. Even candidates for Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s National People’s Power (NPP) have espoused nationalist stances, with supporters at one rally in Point Pedro positively comparing the new Sri Lankan president to LTTE leader V Prabhakaran. Indeed, none of the major parties in the North-East have run on a platform criticising those sentiments, a marker of how deeply rooted they are. With the ethnic question still unresolved, Tamil nationalism remains relevant today.
With an NPP parliamentary majority on the cards, this wider appetite for change is something that resonates across the whole island. Since independence, Sri Lanka has been mired in ethnic turmoil, political instability and brutal violence. The NPP and Dissanayake have an opportunity to change that and their message of ‘system change’ has even managed to turn some Tamils who have longed demanded a revamping of the state. Early signs have not been promising however, with the leftist party already reneging on pledges to repeal draconian anti-terrorism legislation that is still used to detain Tamils. The decision is even more frustrating knowing that it was once used to target Dissanayake’s own party. Party leaders have used the upcoming parliamentary polls to excuse this inaction. The weeks ahead will tell if Sri Lanka's new regime will bring about change or if it will simply be a continuation of the same rotten governance before it.
For the Tamil nation this surge of fresh candidates holds the potential to revitalise its political power. Diverse Tamil voices can express varied perspectives towards a common goal, fostering a more robust Tamil nationalist agenda that can challenge a status quo which has failed to deliver. This new political moment is an affirmation of Tamil resilience and determination. Despite years of political marginalisation, suppression, and broken promises, there is still hope, and a collective reimagining of what Tamil politics could look like in the years to come. Students at the University of Jaffna captured this moment last month as they called for political parties to “mould Tamil nationalism into a progressive force” and bring about a “new political culture” for Eelam Tamils. This week could see its beginning.
