by Our Correspondent in Colombo
Former Tamil militant leaders Karuna Amman (Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan) and Pillayan (Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan) have set aside their past differences and reached an agreement to contest together in the forthcoming Provincial Council elections. This marks a significant reunion of two figures who were once key allies before their split in Sri Lanka’s post-war political landscape.
Both leaders were once prominent members of the LTTE, with Karuna Amman serving as the head of the LTTE’s Eastern Province forces before his defection in 2004. Following his break from the LTTE, he formed the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP), a faction that played a crucial role in weakening the LTTE’s hold over the East. Pillayan, a close associate, eventually took over leadership of the TMVP when Karuna moved towards national politics. The two later had a falling out, leading to separate political careers—Karuna aligning himself with the Rajapaksa government, while Pillayan became the first Chief Minister of the Eastern Province in 2008.
Their renewed collaboration comes at a time when Sri Lanka is preparing for Provincial Council elections, with discussions ongoing about the electoral system. The government has indicated its readiness to hold elections if an agreement is reached with the opposition regarding the voting system. Karuna and Pillayan’s alliance is expected to strengthen Tamil political representation in the Eastern Province, where both leaders still maintain considerable influence.
This agreement signals a strategic move to consolidate political power and presents a new dynamic in the upcoming elections. Whether this partnership will endure beyond the elections remains to be seen, but for now, it marks a rare moment of unity between two former rivals.
