Sampanthan queries legality of TULF convention

13 October 2011 04:00 pm

A fresh dispute has arisen between the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) Leader V. Anandasangari and Tamil National Alliance (TNA) leader R. Sampanthan who has threatened to legally challenge the TULF convention held in Jaffna recently, political sources said today.

The TULF was held to appoint a new set of officials. Subsequently, Mr. Anandasangari informed the Elections Commissioner in writing about the new resolutions adopted by the party at its annual convention.

However, Mr. Sampanthan who was with the TULF earlier had requested the Commissioner in writing not to accept the decisions taken at the TLUF convention. Both Mr. Sampanthan and Mr. Anandasangari were in the TULF prior to 2001. Later, Mr. Sampanthan broke away from the TULF and formed the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) with a few other Tamil parties on a request by the LTTE.

The dispute arose after Mr. Anandasangari opposed the idea to bring the TULF under the banner of the TNA, which he identified as the political wing of the LTTE. This led to a legal wrangle between Mr. Sampanthan and Mr. Anandasangari and eventually Mr. Anandasangari was able to hold on to the TULF along with its rising sun symbol. When asked about the latest crisis, Mr. Anandasangari said Mr. Sampanthan left the party a long time ago, and therefore, he had no right to reclaim the party by challenging the convention. “There must be something wrong with him.

He left the party and teamed up with the LTTE at that time. I reorganised the party. Now, he cannot reclaim it,” Mr. Anandasangari said. When Mr. Sampanthan was asked about it he said it was an entirely private matter, and therefore he would not make any comment. And on the allegations made against him by Mr. Anandasangari, he said, “Mr. Anandasangari can say anything. I won’t comment. I do not want to make a mountain out of it.” (Kelum Bandara)