The Tamil National People’s Front explained why it was going to abstain from voting for a new Sri Lankan president, ahead of a vote in parliament on Wednesday.
See the full text of their Twitter thread explaining the party’s decision below.
The Central Committee of the TNPF examined the choices for President extensively. Thereby we met with the parties that had sought our support over the past two days.
We had met with Sajith Premadasa, leader of SJB, and also with Harini Amarasooriya and Harshana Nanayakkara representing the NPP.
In their discussions with us those who have come forward as Presidential candidates appear reluctant to resolve the decades-long Tamil national question. Hence, the Central Committee of the TNPF has unanimously moved to back neither of the candidates.
Our Central Committee rejected Ranil Wickremasinghe unanimously. He is as much to blame for the current crisis as Gotabahaya Rajapakse. It is abundantly clear that Wickremasinghe is a major stumbling block to systemic change that is the rallying cry of the current protests.
Between 2015-2019, it was made clear that the UNP would only back a constitution within a Unitary state as evident in its support of the draft constitution drafted during that time.
It seems certain that their position has not changed vis-a-vis a federal solution and self determination for the Tamil nation.
Recently, when we put forth our demands to Wickremasinghe at a meeting at his request, the week after he was appointed PM, he dismissed them as "unrealistic" and "impractical".
Secondly, when we implored at this meeting that the Gotabhaya government be dismissed he was nonchalant and claimed there was no hurry to do so.
The Wickremasinghe camp has attempted to reach out to us over the past couple of days but due to the reasons outline above it would be moot to even negotiate with such an individual.
Likewise, Sajith Premadasa almost echoed the views of Ranil Wickremasinghe.
When discussing the Tamil national question, Premadasa was of the view that the Indian panchayat system would be an apt solution. Proposing the panchayat system as solution for the Tamil national question goes on to show Premadasa's understanding of the Tamil question.
When we spoke over the phone yesterday we reiteratered that we believe he would act differently from other political leaders, but that he too had been a disappointment. Thereby, we came to the unanimous decision we will not back Sajith Premadasa.
We also met with Harini Amarasooriya and Harshana Nanayakkara of the NPP who outlined their own private views on the Tamil national question. They also disclosed that there was a gulf between the civil society stakeholders of NPP and that of the JVP re: the Tamil question.
As there was ongoing internal debate on this matter of the solution to the Tamil national question they claimed it would be impossible to arrive at a position satisfactory to us before Wednesday.
With no clear, concrete or definite assurances regarding political aspirations of the Tamil people, we have unanimously decided not to back any of the candidates for President. The election of President on Wednesday offers no choices for the Tamil people or the TNPF.
