A serious disagreement has been created within the Tamil National Alliance over the decision to attend the Independence Day celebrations, BBC Sandeshaya reported.

Yesterday's national celebration saw the TNA leader R. Sampanthan and Parliamentarian MA Sumanthiran in attendance. This was the first time the TNA (or the old TULF or ITAK) had attended the Independence Day in decades.

Sampanthan told BBC Tamil Service that the present government treats the Tamil people equally and seem to have an authentic intention to find solutions to Tamil people's problems. He added that he was sure that his attendence would give a positive signal to the people of the country and will contribute in the search for a credible answer for the problems.

However, TNA Parliamentarian Suresh Premachandran said that the decision by Sampanthan and Sumanthiran were not a decision by the TNA but their private decisions. TNA did not take an official decision to atend the event, he told BBC Tamil Service. According to reports the decision by Sampanthan and Sumanthiran has attracted strong opposition from several TNA leaders including Northern Province Chief Minister CV Wigneswaran.

Premachandran added that according to his knowledge no TNA member has attended the Independence Day from 1972, since it would signify that the TNA accepts the constitution of the country.

He added that he was unaware of the rationale or the basis for Sampanthan and Sumanthiran to attend the event.

Sampanthan acknowledged the rift in the party. Speaking to BBC Tamil Service, he said "I informed all, but not all agreed."

He added that this independence day was different from the past. While the past saw basically a "military exhibition" this year's event brought forward the need for true reconciliation.