• Ready to talk to any party or individual despite political differences; MP Sumanthiran

In the wake of reports that Tamil political parties are going to field a common presidential candidate, the main Tamil political party, Ilankai Thamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) yesterday (7) said that it is open to hold discussions with every party regarding the Presidential Election despite the political differences they have.

Speaking to the media last week, ITAK Opposition Parliamentarian (MP), M. A. Sumanthiran, said that ITAK is ready to discuss with any political party or individual regarding the Presidential Election before taking a final decision. The MP also noted that ITAK's discussion table is open to all individuals who have already announced their candidature for the election.

Responding to a question as to whether the ITAK has decided to support the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People’s Power (NPP), he stated that no such decision has been taken by the party. He elaborated that his party is ready to hold discussions not only with the NPP, but also with other parties such as the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and the United National Party (UNP).

The question from the press came following MP Sumanthiran's presence at a meeting where the NPP's leader, MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake, invited all the Tamil political parties to get together to find solutions for their issues.

Meanwhile, General Secretary of the Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF), a major breakaway faction of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), and which is the major constituent Party of the All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC), MP Selvarajah Kajendran said that his party is boycotting the upcoming Presidential Election demanding a solid constitutional solution to the issues facing the Tamil community in the country.

Attempts made to contact the Tamil People’s National Alliance Leader and Opposition MP, Justice C.V. Vigneswaran on the common candidate prospects, proved futile.