Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) Leader and Member of Parliament Mano Ganesan has reassured India that Sri Lanka’s ongoing constitutional reform process will not dilute the devolution framework established under the 13th Amendment, while pressing for constitutional recognition of the Non‑Territorial Tamil Community Council (NTTC) to safeguard the democratic aspirations of Indian‑Origin Tamils.

Speaking at a meeting with visiting Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Mishri at India House in Colombo yesterday (05), Ganesan emphasized that India’s concerns are understandable given its historic role in the 1987 Indo‑Lanka Accord, which paved the way for Provincial Councils. 

Issuing a statement, he noted that India has both the moral standing and legitimate interest to caution against any constitutional process that undermines devolution.

Ganesan pointed out that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has pledged to resume the constitutional process from where it was suspended, and that the Constitutional Steering Committee’s Interim Report did not propose weakening the 13th Amendment. Instead, he said, it recommended strengthening Provincial Councils and deepening devolution.

“I served alongside President Dissanayake on the Steering Committee. It would be politically and morally inconsistent to now weaken or abolish Provincial Councils,” Ganesan stated.

He further stressed that constitutional reform must not only safeguard devolution but also recognize the aspirations of the Indian‑Origin Tamil community through the NTTC proposal.

“We will engage constructively in the constitutional process, but we will not compromise on protecting devolution, strengthening power‑sharing, and securing constitutional recognition for the NTTC,” he said.

The meeting was attended by TPA Deputy Leader Radhakrishnan MP, CWC General Secretary Jeevan Thondaman MP, and Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha, alongside representatives of Sri Lanka’s Indian‑Origin Tamil community. (Newswire)

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Six Tamil and Muslim political parties have come together to form a common political platform aimed at jointly advocating for issues affecting Tamil-speaking communities across Sri Lanka, while stressing that the initiative is neither an electoral alliance nor an anti-government movement.

The platform brings together the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA), All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC), Ceylon Workers’ Congress (CWC), Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK), and the Democratic Tamil National Alliance (DTNA).

Speaking at the launch in Colombo on Monday, the leaders said the initiative seeks to address common concerns of Tamil-speaking communities living in the Northern, Eastern, Western and plantation regions.

Among the key priorities identified by the parties are urging the Government to introduce a new Constitution in line with its election pledge, ensuring justice, equality and meaningful power sharing, holding long-delayed Provincial Council elections, and resolving land-related issues affecting communities across the country.

The leaders said the platform would engage with the Government, opposition parties, civil society and religious leaders to pursue these issues through dialogue.

Responding to criticism that the grouping was based on ethnicity, the leaders rejected such claims, insisting that the platform was not a “racist alliance” but one that opposes racism.

They stressed that the initiative should not be interpreted as being against any ethnic community, nor as an alliance formed against the Government or in support of the opposition.

The parties said the platform would focus on areas where all six parties share common positions while continuing to maintain their individual political identities. 

Commenting on the initiative, TPA Leader Mano Ganesan said the initiative was not an electoral alliance, but a platform to advance a new Constitutional Process, early Provincial Council Elections, Land Rights in the Northern and Eastern Provinces and upcountry plantations, within an undivided Sri Lanka. 

Also commenting on the initiative, ITAK General Secretary M.A. Sumanthiran, said that it was the first time in decades that political representatives of the Northern, Eastern, Malaiyaha Tamil, and Muslim communities had established a collective political network to voice on agreed issues pertaining to Tamil-speaking communities.

“This is a platform where Tamil-speaking parties can raise a common voice on issues that affect us all. It is not an alliance. Each party remains free to hold its own political views, but where there is common ground, we will work together because a united voice carries greater strength,” he said. (Newswire)

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Leader of the Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA), MP Mano Ganesan, together with several party members, met President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential Secretariat this morning (April 2).

The discussion focused extensively on the challenges faced by the Malaiyagam community, particularly in education, housing, and land. 

The delegation urged urgent measures to address these issues, with the President giving special attention to the concerns raised.

The shortage of teachers in hill‑country schools was also highlighted, with emphasis placed on the immediate recruitment of qualified Tamil‑medium teachers to fill the gap.

TPA MPs P. Digambaram and V. Radhakrishnan, along with other party members, joined the meeting. (Newswire)

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Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) Leader, MP Mano Ganesan has urged the Government of India to simplify the process of granting Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) status to recent Indian-origin Malaiyaha Tamils living in Sri Lanka who wish to obtain it.

Ganesan also called for restructuring the Ceylon Estate Workers Education Trust (CEWET), which operates under the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka, by expanding its mandate to meet the current social and developmental needs of the Indian-Origin Tamil (IOT) Malaiyaha community.

He made these appeals during a meeting with Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha at India House in Colombo, accompanied by TPA Deputy Leader V. Radhakrishnan MP and Politburo Member Barath Arulsamy. Indian High Commission Political Counsellor Ram Babu also joined the discussions.

Taking to ‘X’, Ganesan said the TPA has already submitted detailed proposals to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and both current and former Indian High Commissioners to Sri Lanka. “We now anticipate favourable responses from the Government of India,” he stated.

Highlighting the demographic context, Ganesan noted that approximately 1.5 million Tamils of Indian origin live in Sri Lanka, with nearly one million in plantation regions. However, only about 100,000 remain engaged in plantation labour today. “This demonstrates that the community has progressed through self-initiative into diverse professional, business, and social sectors, evolving into a recognized national minority community,” he said.

He emphasized that while many Sri Lankans trace their origins to India, the more recent Indian-origin population is identified as Malaiyaha Tamils. “Their Indian origin identity neither can nor needs to be concealed. India carries a significant moral responsibility toward Indian-origin Hill Country Tamils, which forms the basis of our engagement,” Ganesan added.

On the matter of OCI status, Ganesan urged India to grant it on a voluntary basis through simplified eligibility criteria. He noted that Prime Minister Modi had responded positively to the proposal during discussions in Colombo. He argued that optional OCI status would serve as a protective and empowering mechanism for the community, which continues to face structural disadvantages compared to Indian-origin communities in countries such as South Africa, Mauritius, Fiji, Singapore, and Malaysia.

He further observed that the 1964 Sirima–Shastri Repatriation Pact weakened the socio-economic position of the community in Sri Lanka. “Granting OCI status today would acknowledge our people’s history while expanding opportunities in education, employment, connectivity, and livelihoods, thereby strengthening the community,” he said.

Turning to education, Ganesan proposed restructuring CEWET into a new framework titled the Indian Origin Tamils – Community Development Trust (IOT-CDT). He stressed that the Malaiyaha Tamil community has moved beyond plantation-based livelihoods and requires broader institutional support.

The TPA suggested several initiatives, including:

• Increasing the value and number of scholarships.
• Establishing a Tamil-medium teacher training college for Mathematics, Science, Technology, and English.
• Creating a nursing training institute dedicated to Malaiyaha Tamil women.
• Setting up two international English-medium schools in Colombo and Nuwara Eliya, modelled on India’s Navodaya school system.
• Developing a Highlands University Campus in Nuwara Eliya District in partnership with a recognized Indian university, with the long-term goal of evolving into a full national university under Sri Lankan law. (Newswire)

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Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) Leader MP Mano Ganesan met French Ambassador to Sri Lanka Rémi Lambert at his residence, accompanied by a TPA delegation, where they raised concerns that Malaiyaha Sri Lankans, particularly plantation residents, continue to face exclusion from equal treatment under the Government’s Rebuilding Sri Lanka housing initiative.

In a post on ‘X’, MP Mano Ganesan stated that the French Ambassador was informed that the Malaiyaha Sri Lankans were the worst affected by the Cyclone Ditwah disaster.

“We apprised the Ambassador,  with facts: Malaiyaha SriLankans, especially plantation residents, were the worst affected by the Ditwah disaster, yet are systematically excluded from equal treatment under the GoSL’s Rebuilding Sri Lanka housing initiative. Despite official commitments, the promised LKR 5 million grant & land allocation to every displaced family remain denied to the plantation community. This is not oversight—it is institutional discrimination,” MP Mano Ganesan alleged.

The TPA Leader further said that repeated requests for a meeting between the TPA and President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to discuss these unresolved, community-specific injustices have been deliberately ignored.

“We urged France to actively use its good offices to press the GoSL to end this discriminatory practice and ensure equal rights, equal resources, and equal dignity for Malaiyaha Sri Lankans,” he added.

MP Mano Ganesan said that he further appealed that France, as a leading European Union member, must insist that land and housing rights for the Malaiyaha community be made a condition for Sri Lanka’s continued access to GSP+benefits. (Newswire)

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Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) Leader MP Mano Ganesan says his party will not participate in the joint opposition rally that has been organized for November 21.

Speaking to reporters, MP Ganesan said the TPA will not participate in the rally due to certain reasons, which he did not specify.

He further said that he is unsure of the decision of the main opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB). 

Refuting remarks that the decision was due to issues with SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa, MP Mano Ganesan said there was no issue with any politicians.

Jovially holding MP Dayasiri Jayasekara by the shoulder, MP Ganesan said they are all good friends, adding, “Anura is also my good friend”. (Newswire)

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Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) Leader MP Mano Ganesan says the government’s recent programme to issue house and land deeds to plantation beneficiaries in Bandarawela was merely the distribution of ‘Letters of Intention’. 

“The JVP government held a grand event at Bandarawela, with much fanfare, claimed to have issued house & land deeds to 2,000+ plantation beneficiaries under the Indian Housing Grant Project. But in reality, no new houses, no land identified, no foundations laid. Only “Letters of Intention”, he said.

He further said that in an act of deception, the hill country Tamil (Malaiyaha) politicos of the government distributed 234 ownership deeds of houses built during the previous government to the inhabitants of those houses, and yet they loudly made a hollow claim of giving 2,288 legal deeds

MP Mano Ganesan alleged that JVP Tamil politicos in the government have taken the innocent plantation residents, the whole country, and the diplomatic community and development partners in Sri Lanka for a ride.  

“And what’s more, they have made the last laugh at their own leader, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake,” he added. 

Opposition MP Mano Ganesan made the remarks in a statement shared on ‘X’. (Newswire)

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The Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA), led by MP Mano Ganesan, has extended its support for the hartal to be held on 15th August in the Northern and Eastern provinces to protest the alleged killing of a man by soldiers from the Sri Lanka Army.

In a post on’X’, MP Mano Ganesan said the TPA supports ITAK’s hartal call on Aug 15th against the disturbing arrest and killing of Tamil youth Kapil Raj. 

“Questions remain: Why army arrest civilians? Why torture? Why excessive military presence in the North East provinces when there’s no war?” he added in his statement. 

The Illankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) called for a hartal after the body of 32-year-old Edirmanasingam Kabilraj was found in the Muthuiyankaddu Tank in Oddusuddan on 09 August.

According to the ITAK, his body was found two days after he and four others were reportedly summoned to the army camp in the area and severely beaten.

The hartal is set to take place across the Northern and Eastern provinces to protest what the ITAK described as continuing military brutality. (Newswire)

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A delegation of politicians representing the Hill Country Tamils of Sri Lanka has requested social and educational assistance from India during a discussion with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Sri Lanka. 

During PM Modi’s official state visit to Sri Lanka from 04-06 April, he engaged in a discussion with a delegation consisting of Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) and Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) members, led by TPA Leader MP Mano Ganesan.

Commenting on the meeting, MP Mano Ganesan said PM Modi was informed that they will not burden him with their political demands, but will submit their political proposals when the government commences the new constitutional process.

He further said that they requested Indian logistical support to establish an exclusive Teacher Training College that could produce teachers in the subjects of Science, Maths, English, and IT.

MP Ganesan said a request was also made for the establishment of a Nurses Training Institute for the community girls and the establishment of a Campus affiliated with a prestigious Indian university. 

“On the national economic aspect, we firmly stated that Sri Lanka’s forward march is necessarily tied up with the world’s 5th largest Indian economy. We welcomed the economic connectivities represented by the MoUs signed between Sri Lanka and India,” MP Ganesan said, in a statement. (Newswire)

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Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) Leader MP Mano Ganesan in a letter to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, called for an immediate moratorium on the eviction of plantation residents by estate managements.

In his letter the MP brought to attention of the President the notices issued to Mrs. S. Gandhi Mathi and Mr. M. Thava Kumar, long-time residents of line-room habitats under Sunderland Estate in Eheliyagoda, demanding their evacuation.

Ganesan argued that plantation residents, having lived in these dwellings for generations, are lawful citizens of Sri Lanka and must not be displaced.

He noted that while plantation lands are managed under long-term lease agreements, the land itself belongs to the state and its people, including plantation residents.

The MP said that the Manager of Sunderland Estate, managed by Pussellawa Plantations Ltd, had expressed intentions of modern-day slavery.

He stressed on the need for a humane and fair approach to relationships between plantation workers, non-workers, and estate management.

Ganesan urged the government to impose a freeze on all evictions until systemic reforms are implemented to safeguard the rights and livelihoods of plantation communities.

The TPA Leader warned that unchecked evictions could lead to severe repercussions for the marginalized plantation community. (Newswire)

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Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) MPs Palani Digambaram and Velu Kumar have been caught on camera engaging in a brawl while participating in a debate on local television.

Video footage of the incident shows the two MPs speaking to each other in a derogatory manner leading to a physical brawl.

The MPs were later separated by the television staff in an attempt to contain the situation.

TPA MP Velu Kumar had recently pledged support for President Ranil Wickremesinghe in the upcoming Presidential Election.

Meanwhile, MP Palani Digambaram along with TPA Leader Mano Ganesan has extended support for Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa in the election. (Newswire)

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The Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) led by MP Mano Ganesan has signed the 7 chapter 48 clause document, which represents the hill country Tamil Sri Lankan community’s aspirations to be a fully integrated part of the political, administrative, economic and social mainstream of Sri Lanka. 

Taking to ‘X’, MP Mano Ganesan said the TPA signed a social contract Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with presidential candidate and Opposition leader MP Sajith Premadasa in Colombo at the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) headquarters.

He further said this MoU affirms the immense contribution that the women and men of the upcountry Sri Lankan Tamil community have made over two centuries to the economy and general well-being of Sri Lanka. (Newswire) 

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Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) Leader MP Mano Ganesan has urged Sri Lankan authorities to consider the possibility of providing Overseas Citizenship to Sri Lankans residing overseas, similar to that provided by India. 

Taking to ‘X’, MP Ganesan said Indian law does not allow dual citizenship but provides Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) status to persons of Indian Origins who migrated from India and acquired foreign citizenship. 

“OCI holders can buy residential and commercial properties in India, but cannot purchase farmland or engage in politics. They are offered many more perks, including visa-free entry and stay. Let’s stop quarrelling over dual citizenship and take the Cue from India,” he pointed out. 

MP Ganesan further said that if nearly three million overseas Sri Lankans of all ethnicities, I.e., Sinhalese, Tamils, and Muslims, their spouses and children are recognized as Overseas Citizenship of Sri Lanka (OCSL), it would provide a well-defined role to OCSL in Rebuilding Sri Lanka. 

“Hassle-free travel with a sense of inclusiveness will intensify heritage and habitual visits, as well as bring Forex and brainpower. Let’s think out of the box,” he added. (NewsWire)  

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The Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) hopes to raise the matter of the marginalization of the Hill Country Tamils in Sri Lanka with the visiting Royal Highness Princess Anne, the sister of Britain’s King Charles III.

Speaking to NewsWire, TPA Leader MP Mano Ganesan said the matter will be raised through the British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Andrew Patrick.

MP Ganesan, who is currently in India to raise awareness on the matter with the Tamil Nadu Government, said he will be missing the visit of Princess Anne, due to which the matter has been raised with the British High Commissioner to be conveyed to the visiting Princess.

He further said that steps will also be taken to obtain the signatures of all nine (09) Tamil MPs in Parliament for a Memorandum on the matter, which will also be handed over to the British Government. 

Emphasizing that they do not intend to lay blame on any nation for the marginalization of the Hill Country Tamils in Sri Lanka, MP Ganesan said these attempts are being taken to create awareness of the plight of the community, which is directly linked to the past decisions of the British and Indian governments.

Upon the arrival of Princess Anne in Sri Lanka to mark 75 years of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and Britain, MP Mano Ganesan released the following statement on the matter related to the marginalization of the Hill Country Tamils in Sri Lanka.

The full statement of TPA Leader MP Mano Ganesan:

We demand Princess Anne accept historical responsibility towards the most marginalized group of people in Sri Lanka, the Tamil plantation residents who register lower measures on education, health, land, housing rights, employment indices and almost all human development indices compared to every other community in Sri Lanka. 

Princes Anne is here in Sri Lanka to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and the UK. I find no better time to raise this issue. Marginalization of our community is the dark segment of this 75-year history.  We don’t want to submit a list of blame. But, I submit a reminder of the dark history to Princess Anne. 

The Malaiyaha Tamil community as they are ethnically called, were brought to Sri Lanka, then Ceylon, from India since 1823 by the companies under the British Crown. They were controversially deprived of citizenship immediately after independence in 1948, though plantation workers provided the second-highest foreign reserve in Asia, to the treasury of Ceylon. This ungrateful activity happened over-riding the protection for minorities found in article 29(2) of the then British-given constitution. Thereafter many were subjected to involuntary repatriation to India in 1964. All these occurred while Ceylon was very much under dominion status headed by the British Crown. 

Our worker people are tied to and dependent on their plantation employers and are not full-fledged citizens of Sri Lanka even today after the British left us high and dry in the hands of the local brown Raj that replaced the British white Raj. Her Majesty’s government failed to do what French rulers did to the people of Pondicherry in India.  

As the leader of the largest elected political entity of the Malaiyaha Tamil community, the TPA, I request the British to support our people, the most underprivileged and marginalized Sri Lankans with affirmative action to catch up lost ground towards becoming full-fledged citizens of SriLanka. (NewsWire)

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Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) leader MP Mano Ganesan has requested President Ranil Wickremesinghe for a moratorium on the construction of any new religious sites anywhere in Sri Lanka.

In a Twitter message, MP Ganesan stated that such a moratorium shall apply to all religions in all parts of the country.

“Not Gods but God Men have gone crazy”, the MP said in his message address to the President.

He also called on Minister of Buddha Sasana Vidhura Wickramanayake, under whom all religious departments are placed, Opposition and Samagi Jana Balawegaya leader MP Sajith Premadasa, and National People’s Power leader MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake to support the moratorium. (NewsWire)

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Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) leader Mano Ganesan has raised concerns over President Ranil Wickremeisnghe’s recent statement pertaining to the financial assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). 

President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Friday (17) said at a meeting that Sri Lanka can expect the first tranche of the 2.9 billion dollar IMF extended fund facility in March.

In a Twitter message, TPA leader MP Mano Ganesan raised questions over the promised IMF fund facility to Sri Lanka, pointing out that it contradicts the positions of the key stakeholders, i.e the Chinese Government, IMF, and President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

MP Ganesan further said that the IMF Asia-Pacific director Krishna Srinivasan had earlier revealed that the IMF would not approve the Sri Lankan external fund facility (EFF) without Chinese assurance. 

The opposition MP claimed that under the circumstances, President Wickramasinghe is sending hopeful messages to the nation that the first Tranche of the IMF’s EFF would arrive in March. 

“Who is speaking the truth and straight? It’s the 2.9 billion dollar question hanging over Sri Lankans’ heads today,” he opined, questioning the accuracy of the statement made by the President. (NewsWire)

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The Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) has welcomed the arrival of the Former Secretary General of the United Nations Ban Ki-Moon to Sri Lanka.

Ban Ki-Moon isn’t visiting Sri Lanka in any UN capacity this time around and instead, his visit is about climate cooperation.

TPA Leader Mano Ganesan said that his party welcomes the presence of Ban Ki-Moon, who arrived in Sri Lanka today on an official visit.

Mano Ganesan further said that Ban Ki-Moon should meet former Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa to remind him of the joint statement they made immediately after the end of the civil war in May 2009.

In a statement, MP mano Ganesan revealed that Moon last visited Sri Lanka in May 2009 and visited the war-torn Northern Province. 

“Before his departure, on 24 May 2009, Moon and then President Mahinda Rajapaksa released a joint statement, where Mahinda Rajapaksa expressed his willingness to enhance the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, that is 13 plus by holding talks with Tamil parties. Mahinda Rajapaksa also assured the world body and its chief executive Moon that he will abide by the international human rights norms,” MP Mano Ganesan revealed.

The TPA leader further said that thereby, now he calls upon Ban Ki-Moon to meet Mahinda Rajapaksa and remind him of his own assurances to the UN. 

“Mahinda Rajapaksa happens to be the official president of the largest political party of the government today. Therefore, this reminder would matter to all Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Parliamentarians and the Buddhist clergy that supported the Rajapaksas to power,” MP Mano Ganesan added. (NewsWire)

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