Former spokesman for the LTTE, Velayutham Dayanidhi alias ‘Daya Master’ has applied for membership of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) in order to contest the upcoming polls in the Northern Province.

He submitted to application yesterday at the SLFP Headquarters at Darley Road, Maradana, a senior member of the party said.

Dayanidhi, speaking to Ada Derana, confirmed that he was interviewed yesterday (22) by the SLFP nominations committee for the Northern Provincial Council election, chaired by Minister Susil Premajayantha.  

Daya Master stated that he along with around 50 other prospective candidates from North- 23 representing the Jaffna District- arrived at the SLFP headquarters and were interviewed by Ministers Susil Premajayantha, Mahindananda Aluthgamage and C.B. Ratnayake.

It is reported that Mudiyappu Remadius, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Municipal Councillor of Jaffna, and a United National Party (UNP) Chavakachcheri Pradeshiya Sabha member were also among the candidates vying for a spot in the SLFP’s nominations list.

Daya Master surrendered to government forces with a colleague in April 2009, weeks before the separatist Tamil Tigers were defeated.

Once a senior member of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), Daya Master is now said to be working as the local head of operations for a privately-owned Tamil television channel.