Tamil Becomes Opposition Leader in Sri Lanka’s Parliament

An ethnic Tamil lawmaker is now the opposition leader in Sri Lanka. Positive step toward post-war reconciliation?

Rajavarothayam Sampanthan, an ethnic Tamil lawmaker is now the opposition leader in Lanka Parliament. (File Photo: AP)

Sri Lanka’s Parliament on Thursday recognized an ethnic Tamil lawmaker as the opposition leader for the first time in decades in what is seen a positive step toward post-war reconciliation with the minority community.

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya announced that Rajavarothayam Sampanthan, leader of the Tamil National Alliance, was the official opposition leader.

It is the second time an ethnic Tamil has been opposition leader. Appapillai Amirthalingam became opposition leader in 1977 but resigned five years later after refusing to swear that he would not promote a separate state for Tamils.

A separatist civil war broke out soon after and continued until it was crushed by the island nation’s military in 2009.

The TNA emerged as the third-largest party in the 225-member Parliament in last month’s election but a decision by the first two parties led by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and President Maithripala Sirisena, respectively, to form a consensus government made the TNA the largest opposition party.