“This decision is in consonance with the commitment of the Tamil National Alliance to ensure that the Tamil People are able to live in security, safeguarding their self respect and dignity, fulfilling their legitimate political, economic, social and cultural aspirations within the framework of a united and undivided country, as overwhelmingly demonstrated in their electoral verdict. The Tamil National Alliance expresses the wish that the Government of Sri Lanka would meaningfully reciprocate this positive step on the part of the Tamil National Alliance.”
However Jaffna-based newspaper Uthayan devoted its front page on Saturday to reporting the objections and outrage expressed by voters throughout the North, headlining one article “Disregarding the people’s wishes, oaths before the President” and another feature titled "Is this what we voted for?" 
Uthayan reported widespread outrage expressed both locally and virtually via social media and also featured numerous responses from readers on its website; some translations featured below:
“The people had political solution and Tamil rights in mind when they voted for the TNA... we voted for the TNA to express our separate identity...”– S. Thavabalasingham (Puliyankulam)
“It is completely unacceptable for Vigneswaran to sound off in Valvettithurai about Prabhakaran being a Maveeran, and then take oaths bowing to war criminal Mahinda.” – J. Jeyaruban (Nedunkeni)
“Mahinda Rajapaksa is an individual that repulses the Tamil people. Taking Chief Minister Oaths before him is a foul betrayal to the Tamil people.” – Sinnaiah Sivaruban – Medical Law Officer at the Jaffna Teaching Hospital.
T. Tamilmaaran from Karanaigar called the decision “shameless” and accused the TNA of “pawning the Tamil nation to Mahinda Rajapaksa.” R. Arasaratnam from Velanai said that such a “betrayal” would cast into all future moves of the TNA into suspicion.
Speaking just days before the election at a rally in Kilinochchi, TNA MP M. A. Sumanthiran had said of Mahinda Rajapaksa “this is a leader, who doesn't realise that we are a people - that for our policies - gave our lives... relinquished all our possessions... and that we are a people who are yet still prepared to give more!” Just days after the TNA’s landslide victory Sumanthiran then went onto write in English that the Tamil people had voted for TNA policies including the defence of the Sri Lankan constitution. (See ‘TNA’s Promises’)