-By Political Correspondent
(Lanka-e-News -21.March.2025, 11.20 PM) Sri Lankan Tamil politics has always been a paradox—a movement that claims to fight for the rights of its people but often seems to be its own worst enemy. For decades, Tamil politicians have promised a political solution, assuring their communities that negotiations with the Sri Lankan government, India, or international powers would yield a fair settlement. Yet, here we are, still stuck in a cycle of unfulfilled promises, failed agreements, and internal betrayals.
Instead of a unified front pushing for Tamil political rights, we see Tamil leaders fighting among themselves, sabotaging negotiations, and playing power games. The problem isn't just external pressures—the real betrayal often comes from within.
Since independence, Tamil politicians have oscillated between dialogue and resistance, often using the promise of a "political solution" as a means to maintain their own relevance. The cycle is predictable:
Announce a fresh effort to secure Tamil rights.
Engage in negotiations with the Sri Lankan government, India, or international actors.
Fail to reach an agreement (or deliberately sabotage it).
Blame Sinhala politicians, the Indian government, or external forces.
Return to the Tamil people and claim the fight must continue—while conveniently securing another election win.
This pattern has persisted for over 80 years, from the early agreements between S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike and S.J.V. Chelvanayakam in the 1950s, to Dudley Senanayake and Chelvanayakam in the 1960s, to Premadasa and the LTTE in 1989, and Chandrika Kumaratunga and the LTTE in 1994. Every one of these efforts collapsed—sometimes due to Sinhala political resistance, but more often because Tamil leaders lost their bargaining power or were pressured by India to abandon the process.
The question is: Are Tamil politicians genuinely interested in finding a solution, or is it more beneficial for them to keep the struggle going indefinitely?
One of the most glaring betrayals of Tamil leadership is their deafening silence on the Indian fishermen crisis. Every day, Indian trawlers encroach into Sri Lankan waters, destroying marine life and attacking local Tamil fishermen. Yet, not a single Tamil politician dares to challenge New Delhi on this issue.
Why? Because some Sri Lankan Tamil politicians care more about pleasing India than protecting their own people. They fear upsetting their political sponsors in Tamil Nadu or alienating the Indian government, which they still view as a potential savior in the Tamil struggle.
But here’s the truth: India is not coming to "liberate" Sri Lankan Tamils. The dream of Indian intervention died in the 1980s. If Tamil leaders continue to ignore the plight of their own fishermen while pretending to be the guardians of Tamil rights, how can they expect the community to trust them?
Another major failure of Tamil politicians is their inability—or unwillingness—to effectively integrate the Tamil diaspora into the political solution process. Today, nearly 12% of Sri Lanka’s Tamil population lives abroad, forming an influential and financially strong community.
Instead of channeling this diaspora influence into meaningful political leverage, Tamil politicians often exploit it for funding while keeping them out of decision-making. The diaspora is used as an emotional and financial resource but is rarely allowed a seat at the table in shaping political strategies.
A genuine political solution must recognize the diaspora’s role—not just as donors or protestors abroad but as stakeholders in Tamil political rights.
Tamil politicians love to talk about historical grievances but lack innovative thinking about political solutions. The world has evolved, but Tamil leaders are still stuck in outdated models of federalism and devolution.
There are multiple global models of power-sharing that could inspire a Tamil political solution:
Federalism (like the U.S. or Canada) – Greater autonomy within a united Sri Lanka.
Power Devolution (like Scotland or Wales in the UK) – A regional government with legislative authority.
The Swiss Canton System – A decentralized model where Tamil-majority areas self-govern while remaining part of a unified state.
The Good Friday Agreement (Northern Ireland) – A power-sharing deal between divided ethnic groups, backed by international guarantees.
Yet, Tamil leaders rarely study or advocate for these solutions. Instead, they waste time repeating past mistakes, refusing to compromise, and turning negotiations into personal power struggles.
Certain Tamil politicians have perfected the art of appearing to fight for Tamil rights while actually stalling the process. M.A. Sumanthiran, for example, is an expert in giving speeches, attending to Diplomaitc events, photos with Diplomats, engaging in endless debates, and negotiating with Sinhala leaders, showing off to Tamil voters that he has the direct access to New Delhi—but has he ever delivered a concrete result?
Every time a new government comes to power, Sumanthiran and his counterparts resume their political theater—meeting with Mahinda Rajapaksa, Chandrika Kumaratunga, Ranil Wickremesinghe, or Anura Kumara Dissanayake. They drag out discussions for months, only to eventually blame the Sinhala leadership for the failure.
Meanwhile, ordinary Tamils remain in the same cycle of poverty, unemployment, and political uncertainty.
The harsh truth? Some Tamil politicians would rather remain "fighters" than become "solvers." The moment a real political solution is reached, their relevance diminishes. Keeping the conflict alive ensures they remain in power, keep receiving diaspora funding, and maintain their political status.
Abraham Lincoln once said, "As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master." This principle is particularly relevant to the Tamil political struggle.
For decades, Tamil leaders have portrayed Tamils as perpetual victims while demanding autonomy. But true autonomy requires responsibility, strategic thinking, and unity—qualities that have been sorely lacking in Tamil politics.
If Tamil politicians genuinely want a solution, they must:
Stop fighting among themselves and present a united front.
Hold India accountable for the fishermen issue and stop blindly appeasing New Delhi.
Engage the Tamil diaspora as equal partners, not just financial donors.
Adopt a global perspective and push for innovative power-sharing models instead of repeating the past.
End the political drama and deliver real results.
Tamil politics has been betrayed not just by external forces but by its own leaders. If the Tamil people want a future beyond endless negotiations and broken promises, they must demand real leadership—not showmanship.
--By Political Correspondent
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by (2025-03-21 20:08:33)
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