The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) spokesperson and MP Suresh Premachandran, criticised Sinhala parties in the South for allowing racism to be the basis on which nominations for Sri Lanka's opposition leader position were put forward.
“The chauvinist parties in South are not keen on giving the opposition leader post to Tamils," Mr Premachandran was quoted by the Uthayan newspaper as saying on Thursday.
"The nomination of opposition leader should not take place on basis of racism", he added, urging the speaker "not allow for political benefits by extremists in South in nominating opposition leader".
“If seen in a logical way, the most suitable person to take over the opposition leader post in Sri Lankan parliament is Tamil National Alliance leader R Sampanthan," Mr Premachandran said.
Earlier this week Mr Sampanthan said the TNA was the true opposition in the island, as both the United National Party (UNP) and the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) had jointly formed the new government meant that with 13 MPs, the TNA was the opposition party with the greatest number of members.
“The speaker should not allow racist politicians to take resolutions regarding opposition leadership," Mr Premachandran said.
“Politicians in the south such as Vasudeva Nanayakkara are expressing their views on the opposition leader post, based on racism, targetting the upcoming parliamentary elections."
“The chauvinist parties in South are not keen on giving the opposition leader post to Tamils," Mr Premachandran was quoted by the Uthayan newspaper as saying on Thursday.
"The nomination of opposition leader should not take place on basis of racism", he added, urging the speaker "not allow for political benefits by extremists in South in nominating opposition leader".
“If seen in a logical way, the most suitable person to take over the opposition leader post in Sri Lankan parliament is Tamil National Alliance leader R Sampanthan," Mr Premachandran said.
Earlier this week Mr Sampanthan said the TNA was the true opposition in the island, as both the United National Party (UNP) and the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) had jointly formed the new government meant that with 13 MPs, the TNA was the opposition party with the greatest number of members.
“The speaker should not allow racist politicians to take resolutions regarding opposition leadership," Mr Premachandran said.
“Politicians in the south such as Vasudeva Nanayakkara are expressing their views on the opposition leader post, based on racism, targetting the upcoming parliamentary elections."