The Speaker of the Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena announced to the Parliament today (02) that a vacancy in the Membership of the Parliament has occurred with effect from the 30 June 2024 in terms of the provisions of Article 66(a) of the Constitution due to the death of Trincomalee District MP Rajavarothiam Sampanthan. 

“It is with profound regret that I inform this Parliament of his passing away. On behalf of Parliament, I would like to convey that we are deeply saddened by his demise and I would like to express our heartfelt sympathies to the family of the Honourable Member,’’ the Speaker said. 

Furthermore, he mentioned that the vote of condolence in this regard will be presented to Parliament on a future date.  

Furthermore, the Speaker informed all the Members of Parliament that his remains will lie in the ceremonial hall near the main door of the Parliament on 03 July 2024 from 2.00 p.m. to 4.00 p.m. to pay final respects.

Former Tamil National Alliance (TNA) leader and former Opposition Leader MP R. Sampanthan passed away on Monday (01), at the age of 91. He has reportedly passed away while receiving treatment at a private hospital in Colombo.

A veteran Tamil politician and prominent figure in country’s main Tamil alliance - Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK), his political career spanned six decades, with his first stint in the Sri Lankan parliament starting in 1977.

Sampanthan was the incumbent MP for Trincomalee District and has served in five parliaments since 1977.

A lawyer by profession, Sampanthan led the Tamil National Alliance since 2001. He was a Member of Parliament continuously from 2001 until his death in 2024, and previously served as a MP from 1977 to 1983 and from 1997 to 2000. 

He was the Leader of the Opposition from September 2015 to December 2018.

In April this year, the Parliament had granted the former TNA leader and Trincomalee District MP leave of three months from attending Parliament sessions as he was receiving medical treatment.