Former TNA MP M. K. Sivajilingam says that several elected councilors, including him, decided to boycott the TNA’s swearing-in ceremony yesterday because they oppose decisions taken by the ITAK on its own without consulting other parties in the alliance.

Eight Councilors, from 3 coalition parties of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), elected to the Northern Provincial Council had boycotted the ceremony over the provincial ministers appointed by the Tamil party. Two from PLOTE, five councilors from EPRLF and TELO’s M.K. Sivajilingam were among them.

Members of these 3 parties and the elected councilors held a press conference in Jaffna today (12) explaining their decision.

Sivajilingam stated that had they participated in the event it would have meant that they approved of the decisions by the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi.

However, he, stressed that they would not leave the alliance and join another party even if they were attacked and chased away by ITAK.

TNA Spokesman and Eelam People’s Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF) leader MP Suresh Premachandran, also speaking at the briefing, emphasized that they do not engage in politics expecting posts and that the freedom of the Tamil people is more important. 

He stated that their attention will be directed towards the operation of the provincial council, to see whether the manifesto presented before the election is executed.  

Premachandran pointed out that he cannot be purchased or sold for money.