The Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) has expelled the head of its women’s wing in Jaffna after she raised questions as to how over US$ 1 million of funds raised by Tamil diaspora organisations has been entirely unaccounted for by the party.
Wimaleswary Srikantharuban told reporters in Jaffna last week that the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) constituent party had collected the funds earlier this year, after an appeal from leader R Sampanthan to the Tamil diaspora. The funds were reported to be used to help families who were suffering due to the economic effect posed by curfews on the island,
However, Srikantharuban and other members from the women’s wing alleged that no accounts had been submitted after more than Rs. 210 million had been raised from the Tamil diaspora.
ITAK head Mavai Senathirajah responded by writing to General Secretary K Durairajasingam, calling for Srikantharuban and the other female members to be removed from their posts. Srikantharuban was swiftly expelled from the party.
The move comes as Tamil parties across the North-East began campaigning ahead of general elections next month. Several parties have begun fundraising for their campaigns, both across the island and around the world from the Tamil diaspora.
