Jaffna District MP Mavai Senathirajah has been appointed as the new Leader of the Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK), the main constituent party of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA).

The change of leadership was announced following discussion at the party convention being held from September 05 - 07 in Vavuniya.

Current leader Trincomalee District MP R. Sampanthan has decided step down and Mavai Senathirajah was elected as the new party leader, Ada Derana reporter said.

However, it has been reported that Sampanthan will continue as the leader of the TNA.

Speculation had been rife recently with local media reports hinting at the possible leadership change in Sri Lanka’s main Tamil political party. Senathirajah, who was the General Secretary of the TNA and ITAK, was the frontrunner to take over the leadership role.

Mavai was a National List MP for the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) in the Sri Lankan Parliament between 1989 and 1994, and between 1999 and 2000, taking over from assassinated TULF MPs Appapillai Amirthalingam and Neelan Tiruchelvam respectively.

He has represented the Jaffna multi-member electoral district in the Sri Lankan Parliament since October 2000, firstly for the TULF, then the Tamil National Alliance.

Meanwhile it is reported that Eastern Provincial Council member Krishnapillai Thurairajasingam has been appointed as the new ITAK General Secretary while Sampanthan has been appointed as the leader of ITAK political committee.