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Tamil National Alliance தமிழ் தேசிய கூட்டமைப்பு
Abbreviation	TNA
President	R. Sampanthan
Secretary-General	Mavai Senathirajah
Deputy President	A. Vinayagamoorthy
Deputy Secretary	Selvam Adaikalanathan Suresh Premachandran
Founded	20 October 2001 (2001-10-20)
Dissolved	2024[citation needed]
Headquarters	6, 1st Lane, Point Pedro Road, Jaffna, Sri Lanka
Ideology	Tamil nationalism Regionalism Federalism Formerly: Separatism
Political position	Centre-left
Colours	Yellow  Red
Politics of Sri Lanka Political parties Elections

TheTamil National Alliance (TNA;Tamil:தமிழ்த் தேசியக் கூட்டமைப்பு;ISO 15919:tamiḻt tēciyakkūṭṭamaippu) was apolitical alliance inSri Lanka which represented theSri Lankan Tamilminority of the country. It was formed in October 2001 by a group of moderateTamil nationalistparties and formerTamil militant groups. The alliance originally supportedself-determination in anautonomous state (Tamil Eelam) for the island's Tamils. It supported negotiations with the rebelLiberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to resolve thecivil war in Sri Lanka. The TNA was considered a political proxy of the LTTE, with the LTTE personally selecting some of its candidates, even though its leadership maintains it never supported the LTTE and merely negotiated with the LTTE just as the government did.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Soon after its formation in 2001, the alliance began to make a more pro-LTTE stance, supporting their "freedom struggle" and recognizing them as the sole representative of theTamils. In an interview,Selvam Adaikalanathan explained that it would be a disservice to the Tamil people to oppose the LTTE, and believed that victory could only be achieved if all Tamil groups set aside their differences and stood as a united front. Following the end of the civil war and the defeat of the LTTE, the TNA dropped its demands for an independent state, saying that it is ready to acceptfederalism and regional self-rule. The TNA and its supporters have been subject to numerous attacks during its existence and three of its sitting Members of Parliament have beenassassinated, allegedly bygovernment-backed paramilitary groups.^[6][7]

In 2015, TNA consisted of four parties: theEelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front, theIlankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK), thePeople's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam and theTamil Eelam Liberation Organization.^[8] The alliance began to fall apart during the lead-up to the2024 presidential election,^[9] and in the followingparliamentary election, the alliance split into various factions, with each contesting separately at the election. As a result, the Tamil nationalist vote was split between several parties, including the ITAK, theDemocratic Tamil National Alliance, theTamil People's Alliance, theEros Democratic Front, theAll Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC) and thePeople's Struggle Alliance.^[10][11][12]

At the end of its parliamentary lifespan, the TNA had 10 members in thenational parliament. It controlled theprovincial government in theNorthern Province and was part of the provincial government in theEastern Province. It also controlled 33local authorities in the north and east. The leader of the alliance,R. Sampanthan, served as theleader of the opposition from September 2015 to December 2018.^[13][14]

The TNA was formed in October 2001 to contest the2001 parliamentary election on a common platform.^[15] On 20 October 2001 a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between theAll Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC),Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF),Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization (TELO) andTamil United Liberation Front (TULF).^[16] At the 2001 parliamentary election, the TNA, contesting under the name and symbol of the TULF, received 348,164 votes (3.89%) and won 15 out of 225 seats in theSri Lankan parliament.^[17]

Soon after its formation, the TNA began to make a more pro-LTTE stance, supporting their "freedom struggle" and recognising them as the sole representative of the Sri Lankan Tamils.^[18] This caused a split within the TULF. Some members of the TULF, led by its presidentV. Anandasangaree, were opposed to the LTTE. Anandasangaree refused to allow the TNA to use the TULF name during the2004 parliamentary election.^[19] This caused the members of TULF who wished to remain with the TNA to resurrect theIllankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) political party.^[20] At the 2004 parliamentary election the TNA, contesting under the name and symbol of the ITAK, received 633,654 votes (6.84%) and won 22 out of 225 seats in parliament.^[21]

The TNA boycotted the 2008 local authority election inBatticaloa District and the2008 Eastern Provincial Council election due to threats posed by the government backedTamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP) paramilitary group and opposition to the de-merger of theNorth Eastern Province.^{[22][23][24][25]}

The civil war ended in May 2009 after the LTTE were defeated by theSri Lankan military.^[26] AUnited Nations report found that as many as 40,000 civilians may have been killed in the final months of the civil war, mostly as a result of indiscriminate shelling by the Sri Lankan military.^[27][28][29] There are widespread allegations that both sides committed atrocities and human rights violations includingwar crimes.^[30][31][32] The TNA has consistently campaigned for an independent international investigation into the alleged war crimes.^[33][34][35]

At the2010 presidential election, the TNA supported common opposition candidateSarath Fonseka who, asCommander of theSri Lanka Army, had played a key role in the LTTE's defeat.^[36] In March 2010 the TNA dropped its demand for a separate Tamil state, advocating instead afederal solution with significantdevolution and merger of theNorthern andEasternprovinces.^[37][38] In March 2010 ACTC and its leaderGajendrakumar Ponnambalam, along with fellow TNA MPsS. Kajendran andPathmini Sithamparanathan, left the TNA and formed theTamil National People's Front (TNPF).^[39][40] At the2010 parliamentary election the TNA received 233,190 votes (2.90%) and won 14 out of 225 seats in parliament.^[41]

At the2013 provincial council election, the first elections for provincial councils in the Northern Province, the TNA secured nearly 80% of the votes, winning 30 of the 38 seats on theNorthern Provincial Council.^[42][43][44] The TNA'sC. V. Vigneswaran was sworn in as the first democratically electedChief Minister of the Northern Province on 7 October 2013.^[45][46][47]

At the2015 presidential election, the TNA supported common opposition candidateMaithripala Sirisena.^[48][49] Newly elected president Sirisena formed a national unity government after the election but the TNA chose not to join the new government, saying that, although the TNA supported Sirisena's policies for political reform, a political solution must first be found to address Tamil grievances before the TNA would consider joining the government.^[50][51] The TNA was however represented by its leader Sampanthan on the National Executive Council.^[52][53][54]

In March 2015 the TNA joined an all party provincial government in the Eastern Province.^[55][56][57] Two TNA provincial councillors were appointed to the province's Board of Ministers.^[58][59]

At the2015 parliamentary election, the TNA received 515,963 votes (4.62%) and won 16 out of 225 seats in parliament.^[60][61] After the election, Sampanthan was recognised asLeader of the Opposition in parliament.^[62][63]

Tamil National Alliances manifesto were based on what is known as theThimpu principles amongst Sri Lankan Tamil nationalists.^[64] But the TNA later rejected separatism preferring power devolution to the provinces and stated that they accept that Sri Lanka is a united state and the TNA does not intent to form aseparate state.^[65][66]

The current political manifesto and policies of the TNA are,^[67]

• The Tamils are a distinct People and from time immemorial have inhabited this island together with the Sinhalese People and others
• The contiguous preponderantly Tamil-speaking Northern and Eastern provinces is the historical habitation of the Tamil-speaking Peoples
• The Tamil People are entitled to the right to self-determination
• Power sharing arrangements must be established in a unit of a merged Northern and Eastern Provinces based on aFederal structure, in a manner also acceptable to the Tamil-speaking Muslim people
• Devolution of power on the basis of shared sovereignty shall necessarily be over land, law and order, socio-economic development including health and education, resources and fiscal powers.

The TNA also stands for,

• There must be meaningful de-militarization resulting in the return to the pre-war situation as it existed in 1983 before the commencement of hostilities by the removal of armed forces, military apparatuses and High Security/Restricted Zones from the Northern and Eastern Provinces
• Tamil People who have been displaced in the North and the East due to the conflict must be speedily resettled in their original places; housing provided, their livelihoods restored and their dignity respected
• An independent International Investigation must be conducted into the allegations of violations of international human rights and humanitarian laws made against both theGovernment of Sri Lanka and the LTTE during the last stages of the war, the truth ascertained and justice to victims and reparation including compensation must be ensured
• Persons who are detained without charges must be released promptly and a general amnesty should be granted to all other political prisoners
• There must be finality reached with regard to thousands of missing persons and compensation must be paid to the next of kin
• Tamils who fled the country must be permitted to return to their homes and a conducive atmosphere created for their return
• A comprehensive programme for the development of the North and East including the creation of employment opportunities for the youth will be undertaken with the active support of the Sri Lankan State, the Tamil Diaspora and the International Community

The TNA and its supporters have been subject to numerous attacks during its existence.

Batticaloa District parliamentary candidate Rajan Sathiyamoorthy was shot dead on 30 March 2004 at his home inBatticaloa.^[68][69] The LTTE was blamed for the assassination.^[6] FormerAmpara District MPA. Chandranehru was shot dead on 7 February 2005 as he was travelling inBatticaloa District.^[70][71] The government backedTamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP) andEelam National Democratic Liberation Front (ENDLF) paramilitary groups claimed responsibility for the assassination.^[6][7]

National List MPJoseph Pararajasingham was shot dead on 25 December 2005 as he attendedMidnight Mass in Batticaloa.^[72][73] The government backedEelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP) and TMVP paramilitary groups have been blamed the assassination.^[6][74][75] Pararajasingham's nominated replacement Vanniasingham Vigneswaran was shot dead on 7 April 2006 inTrincomalee.^[6] The TMVP was blamed for the assassination.^[6]

FormerJaffna District MPS. Sivamaharajah was shot dead on 20 August 2006 outside his home inTellippalai.^[76][77] The EPDP was blamed for the assassination.^[6] Jaffna District MPNadarajah Raviraj was shot dead on 10 November 2006 as left his home inColombo for work.^[78][79] The TNA blamed the assassination on paramilitary groups working with the army.^[80] The EPDP andGotabhaya Rajapaksa, brother ofPresidentMahinda Rajapaksa, were also blamed.^[6][81][82]

Jaffna District MPK. Sivanesan was killed byclaymore mines on 6 March 2008 nearMaankulam,Mullaitivu District as he returned home toMallavi after attending Parliament inColombo.^[83][84] The TNA blamed the assassination on the army'sDeep Penetration Unit.^[6][85]

On 7 March 2011 Jaffna District MPS. Shritharan was travelling in a van on theA12 highway near Nochchiyagama,Anuradhapura District when three men standing by a white van parked on the roadside pulled out guns and started shooting and throwing hand grenades at Shritharan's van.^[86][87] Sritharan's police guard fired back, forcing the attackers to flee in their white van which had no number plates. No one was hurt in the incident. Shritharan has blamed the EPDP, a government backed paramilitary group, for the assassination attempt.^[88] A TNAlocal election campaign meeting inAlaveddy on 16 June 2011 was attacked allegedly by army personnel.^[89][90]

A mob, allegedly from the security forces, attacked a TNA meeting at MP S. Shritharan's inKilinochchi on 30 March 2013, injuring 13.^[91][92] During the2013 provincial council election campaign TNA activist Rasiah Kavithan was clubbed to death byUnited People's Freedom Alliance supporters on 16 September 2013 inPuthukkudiyiruppu, Mullaitivu District.^[93][94][95] A group of around 70 armed men in military uniform attacked the home of TNA provincial council candidateAnanthi Sasitharan inChulipuram on 20 September 2013, injuring some of her supporters and an election monitor.^[96][97][98]

In the first parliamentary election contested by theTamil National Alliance, the5 December 2001 election, the TNA led byRajavarothiam Sampanthan won 3.88% of the popular vote and 15 out of 225 seats in theSri Lankan parliament.

Votes and seats won by TNA by electoral district

In the2 April 2004 parliamentary election in which theUnited People's Freedom Alliance led byPresident Kumaratunga came to power, theTamil National Alliance led byRajavarothiam Sampanthan won 6.84% of the popular vote and 22 out of 225 seats in theSri Lankan parliament.

Votes and seats won by TNA by electoral district

In the2010 Sri Lankan parliamentary election, in which theUnited People's Freedom Alliance , led byMahinda Rajapaksa, retained power, theTamil National Alliance, led byRajavarothiam Sampanthan, won 2.9% of the popular vote and 14 out of 225 seats in theSri Lankan parliament.

Votes and seats won by the TNA by electoral district

This sectionneeds expansion. You can help byadding to it.(January 2017)

The Tamil National Alliance won 16 seats, an increase of two from 2010.

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• tnapolitics.org (old website)
• tnamediaoffice.blogspot.co.uk (old website)

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