The Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi, the main constituent of the Tamil National Alliance, has said it would commence a non-violent struggle in January next year if the Sri Lankan government “does not change its course before the end of this year.”

This declaration was made at the 15th national convention of the ITAK held in Vavuniya during September 6-8. Jaffna District Member of Parliamentary Mavai Senathirajah was named its new leader, succeeding veteran politician R. Sampanthan.

Sampanthan continues to lead the TNA, of which ITAK is the largest party.

The ITAK passed a resolution inviting all Tamil, Muslim political parties, formations, and progressive forces within Sri Lanka to join it in pushing for maximum possible devolution to address the ethnic conflict. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had apparently urged the TNA to seek a broader alliance of political parties of Tamil speaking people in Sri Lanka to further their demands, when the TNA leaders met him recently.

The ITAK has indicated its desire for strong Indian intervention in several areas, and particularly the question of devolution, urging the Indian government that it should not permit the Sri Lanka government to breach provisions of the Indo-Lanka Accord as it was a bilateral agreement between the two countries.

It also appealed to India and the entire international community to take urgent steps to halt the “genocidal actions” of the government, which it accused of “colonizing” the Tamil areas.