Last week saw Tamil National Alliance MP, M.A. Sumanthiran, meet with Sri Lanka’s President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena to discuss the political aspiration of Tamils on the island.

The meeting follows the passage of the proposed 2023 budget which will see the island military budget further increased whilst simultaneously slashing funding to the public sector and incentivizing international trade.

The budget was passed with a majority of 43, with all 10 TNA members absent during the passage. The Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF) and the Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) opposed the bill; except for MP Velu Kumar who abstained and was subsequently suspended from the party. Tamil Makkal Thesiya Kuttani (TMTK) Leader C.V. Wigneswaran also abstained from voting on the bill.

Sumanthiran explained the party’s decision as part of a quid pro quo that would enable discussions on devolution;

"Right through the debate on the Second Reading, all members of the Tamil National Alliance criticized the Budget [...] However, we took a decision not to cast our votes against the Budget [...] because the President has on numerous occasions in the last few days repeatedly said that he wants to resolve the Tamil national question and has invited the Tamil parties to have discussions with him".

However, Wicrekemsinghe’s claimed commitment to meet the aspiration of Tamils has been met with scrutiny by TNPF leader Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam who stressed that the president has rejected calls for federalism.

“So, what are we going to discuss with him? He simply wants to show the world that his government is legitimate, stable, and that he is talking to all actors. He just needs us to be at the negotiating table,” Ponnambalam told The Hindu.

He added:

“If he [President] is sincere in his pledge to resolve the Tamil question, federalism should be a pre-condition for these talks. He should be open about it, and not lie to the Sinhalese people.”

In his meeting with the president, Sumanthiran warned Wickremesinghe that “extremist chauvinistic elements” would oppose moves toward implementation of the 13^th amendment.

“This matter can be taken forward constructively and with sincerity only when the agitations of the extremist elements are ignored” Sumanthiran reportedly told the Sri Lankan president.

Sumanthiran further urged for the immediate holding of provincial council elections. He maintained that only through this will Wickremesinghe be able to gain the confidence of both the Tamil people and the international community.

Wickremesinghe will reportedly hold an all-party leaders’ meeting on the 13^th and consider the his next steps.