Veteran Sri Lankan Tamil Leader Rajavarothiam Sampanthan Passes Away at 91
Veteran Sri Lankan Tamil Leader Rajavarothiam Sampanthan Passes Away at 91
Rajavarothiam Sampanthan, a prominent Sri Lankan Tamil leader who spent his political career seeking a fair solution to the Tamil issues in Sri Lanka, passed away in Colombo late Sunday. He was 91 years old.
Mr. Sampanthan was a member of the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) and served as a Member of Parliament representing the eastern Trincomalee district. He also led the Tamil National Alliance, the main political group for Tamils in Sri Lanka’s war-affected northern and eastern regions. From 2015 to 2018, he held the position of Leader of the Opposition.
With nearly 50 years in parliament, Mr. Sampanthan was known for his strong and persistent voice. After the civil war ended in 2009, he consistently called for equal rights for Tamils within a united and undivided Sri Lanka. As a trained lawyer, he often based his arguments on Sri Lanka’s constitutional history and highlighted the unfulfilled promises made by the southern Sinhalese leaders.
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