‘Eelam is our ultimate goal’

By Paul Newman   08 Jun 2012

Posted 08-Jun-2012 Vol 3 Issue 23 Sivagnanam Shritharan, 43, is the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Member of Sri Lankan Parliament from Kilinochchi. Elected in 2010, he was earlier the head master of the Kilinochchi Mahavidyalayam in Kilinochchi, where LTTE leader Velupillai Prabakaran’s children had studied. An ardent advocate of peace who loses no opportunity to criticise the flawed Sinhala polity, unidentified gunmen made an attempt on his life in March last year near Anuradhapura. Shritharan survived an attempt on his life, but still fights for his people He survived, and still remains the man he was, bold and committed to the cause of his people. Having climbed the political ladder from the grassroots, the Tamils of Sri Lanka, both in their homeland and among the Diaspora, have pinned a lot of hope on him. Many still remember his maiden speech in Parliament, when he said: “A race that subjugates another race cannot live in peace itself. That country too can never achieve liberation. Further by the actions taken to subjugate, they will be enslaved by other nations.” In an exclusive interview to Dr. Paul Newman, he reiterates his position that securing Tamil Eelam is the ultimate goal of TNA. 1. As an elected leader of the Tamil people do you believe the Sri Lankan state can render justice to the Tamils? Can you update on the situation in the Tamil areas? Read More