The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP M.A. Sumanthiran emphasised the need for all Tamil political parties to work together at a joint discussion in Vavuniya last Friday.

The meeting involved Tamil politicians, Christian bishops and archbishops in the North-East and civil society organisations.

“We all agree that the political unity of the Tamil people is essential today,” said Sumanthiran at a subsequent press conference. “If we are to approach it responsibly, all parties in the Tamil national arena must work together,” he added.

Further, he suggested the need for a new structure for all Tamil politicians to work together for a dignified political solution. 

Last month, major Tamil political leaders, civil society actors and victim community representatives signed a statement, in an unprecedented show of unity, declaring that there is "no scope" for a domestic accountability mechanism within Sri Lanka and jointly called for an international accountability process, including a referral to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Commenting on the ongoing 46^th session of the UNHRC, he predicted that many countries are likely to maintain neutrality with Sri Lanka.  

Sumanthiran further said that “co-sponsoring countries have made great efforts to pass this resolution, but the Sri Lankan government has intentionally removed the issue of compulsory cremation in the days leading up to the Geneva session so that Islamic countries will not support the resolution”. “However, we hope that the Islamic countries will not change their position,” he added.