• Renews demands for north-east merger, power sharing

By Kelum Bandara
Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK), the dominant Tamil party based in the north and the east, decided to institute disciplinary action against its member P. Ariyanethran who is running for presidency as the common Tamil candidate with the backing of a few other parties, a party official said.   
Party’s Jaffna district MP M.A. Sumanthiran told Daily Mirror that the party’s central committee that met recently cautioned its members against participation in meetings organized by Mr. Ariyanethran who was an MP from the Batticaloa district.  

 Mr. Ariyanethran is contesting the elections with the backing of an amalgam of parties – People’s Liberation Organization of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE), Eelam People’s Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF) , Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization (TELO) , Tamil National Party (TNP) , Tamil Makkal Kooteny(TMK) and the political party and the political party formed by ex LTTE combatants.   
The ITAK is yet to decide on its stand regarding support to any candidate. Asked about it Mr. Sumanthiran said his party awaits the manifestos of the main candidates to decide on the stand. As usual, the ITAK is demanding the re-merger of the north and the east and a power sharing arrangement.   
The Tamil parties have always put forward these demands. The ITAK holds the support of a key voter base.   
The ITAK supported Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) candidate Sajith Premadasa at the last presidential election.