The Tamil National Alliance (TNA), Sri Lanka’s main Tamil political party, has decided to support the Opposition’s Common Candidate Maithripala Sirisena at the upcoming Presidential Election.

TNA Leader MP R. Sampanthan made the announcement at a press conference held in Colombo today.

“Though the candidates, in their respective manifestos, may not have said very much in regard to what the political solution should be to the country’s national question, we are inclined to the view - based particularly upon the performance of the President Mahinda Rajapaksa in the past - that we would rather repose our faith in the joint opposition candidate Mr. Maithripala Sirisena rather than expect what has not happened in the past 10 years to happen hereafter,” he told reporters.

The TNA said it has given careful consideration to the positions and pronouncements of the two main candidates and has also undertaken an extensive process of consultation to hear the views of the Tamil speaking people, particularly those in the North and East.  

“As the political leadership of the Tamil people in Sri Lanka, we have a historical duty to guide our people and the wider citizenry in the choice they will be called on to make at the election,” the party said.

The TNA is a Sri Lankan Tamil political alliance in Sri Lanka and rules the country’s Northern Provincial Council. It was formed as an amalgamation of moderate Tamil parties as well as number of former rebel groups.

The TNA’s decision comes just days after two Muslim political parties withdrew from the government and extend support to the opposition.

Last week, former industry and commerce minister Rishad Bathiudeen and his All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) announced the decision to support Sirisena while on Sunday former Justice Minsiter Rauff hakeem and his Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) defected.

The presidential elections are slated for Jan 8.