Diaspora organisations congratulated the Tamil National Alliance for securing 16 seats in Sri Lanka’s parliament at the August 18 general elections.

Congratulating the TNA, the British Tamil Conservatives (BTC), in a press release said,

“We are pleased the Tamils in the North and East have once again exercised their franchise in large numbers to endorse TNA's policies for truth, justice and a lasting solution to the Tamil National question based on Tamil people's longstanding and legitimate aspiration of right to self-determination.”

The British Tamil Conservatives added,

“We extend our best wishes to the newly elected members of parliament and hope the parliamentary party working hand in hand with the Northern Provincial Council led by Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran will seek to address the urgent existential issues of the Tamils and successfully navigate the new political environment in Sri Lanka to achieve a permanent solution to the Tamil National question.”

The Global Tamil Forum, congratulating the TNA, in a press release said,

“As an organization that has worked with the TNA for several years, we seek the full support of the international community, including India, to help implement the legitimate demands of the Tamil people through a negotiated political solution.”

The European Union Election Observation Mission to Sri Lanka has praised the way the elections in Sri Lanka were conducted, but said an ally of the ruling UNP was behind violent incidents in the North-East and expressed criticism on issues of campaigning freedoms, representation of women and media ownership, in their preliminary statement.

In the Northern Province, the ACMC, an ally of the ruling UNP, is confirmed to have been behind violent incidents against competitors. There were also several reports of intimidation and obstruction of campaign activities at Kayts Island, part of the Jaffna electoral district, the EU further said.

The mission noted that although freedom of assembly and movement were respected in the run up to the election, overly restrictive rules curbed freedom of campaigning. Powers given to the Election Commissioner, who administered the elections in a "transparent and impartial manner", challenged media freedoms, including his ability to order state-owned media outlets to halt broadcasts.

Direct flights would also be established linking Beijing to Mumbai, with four flights every week, as well as Karachi, with three flights a week and Kuala Lumpur with four flights every week.

The Communist Party of India (CPI) said the Indian central government should take efforts towards bringing about a political solution in Sri Lanka that will see the Tamil people on the island granted equal status.

CPI Tamil Nadu Secretary R Mutharasan told reporters that despite the high expectations for reconciliation held after the defeat of former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa earlier this year, key issues remain unsolved.