TULF is a legacy of ‘Thanthai Selva’ to the Tamil Speaking People.

By V.Anandasangaree

(February 18, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) There is no doubt that the present situation demands absolute unity of all Tamils and Tamil speaking people,not only of the North and the East but also of the West, South and the Centre, not to confront the Government but to evolve a consensus towards finding a lasting solution, acceptable to the Tamils, without prejudice to the interests of the other communities in Sri Lanka.

There cannot be a different view in this matter. As for me and for the TULF we are prepared to work with anyone wishing to join us on a common programme to achieve peace and equality for all. No one can find any justifiable reason to object to working with a party founded by no less a person than the late Hon. Mr.S.J.V.Chelvanayagam Q.C,a person very affectionately referred to as “Eelathu Gandhi” with the blessings and support of leaders like the late Hon. Mr.S Thondaman Leader of the Ceylon Workers Congress and the late Hon Mr. G.G.Ponnambalam QC founder leader of the All Ceylon Tamil Congress. The Tamil Congress together with the Federal Party founded by the late Hon Mr.S.J.V.Chelvanayagam formed the Tamil United Liberation Front. All leaders of these two political parties with the rank and file joined it with the ‘Rising Sun’ as its symbol, recognized by the Commissioner of Elections. Since the formation of the TULF, the remains of many leaders, like Hon.M.Thiruchelvam QC, Hon G.G. Ponnambalam QC, Hon S.J.V. Chelvanayagam QC, Hon .A Amirthalingam Secretary General of the TULF and Ex-Leader of the Opposition , Hon V. Yogeswaran Ex-M.P, Hon M. Sivasithamparam Ex-M.P, Hon.T.Thirunavukkarasu Ex-MP, Hon.A.Thangathurai Ex-M.P,Mrs.Sarojini Yogeswaran Mayoress, Mr.P. Sivapalan Mayor and very many others, within the country and out side, were all taken for cremation or burial, covered in ‘Uthaya Sooriyan’ Flag of the TULF, which is considered as a sacred one respected and honoured by almost all Tamils of Sri Lanka.

There was no need for anybody to give up his party, the TULF and its flag with the emblem of the Rising Sun, in preference to the Federal Party and its Flag with ‘House’ as its symbol. There was absolutely no need for anyone to have revived the Federal party which was virtually defunct, since the founder of the Federal Party had it woundup and promoted the Tamil United Liberation Front, which was founded by many top ranking leaders of Political parties, big and small. At the 1977 Parliamentary General Election the TULF won 19 Tamil Majority seats in the North and the East and lost only one to a rival party at a difference of about 500 votes.

The late leaders, founder members and well wishers, left behind the TULF as a legacy for the Tamil people committed to peace and non- violence, for several generation to come. Even in his dreams, the founder of the Federal Party the late Hon S.J.V. Chelvanayagam never expected the party, that he founded and later woundup, will ever be used to destroy the TULF he later founded with leaders of various political parties, for a common cause of winning over the rights of the Tamil people, by non-violent means. As for me I had done my duty to my country, its people and to the leaders who scarified their lives for the cause of the party. I invite all those committed to non-violence to come back into the party which never shut its doors for anyone. Contrary to this, it turned out to be a Herculean task to keep the party alive, to fulfill the ambitions of the founders. If any one feels that I should quit to enable anybody to join the party, I will gladly do so after leaving it in safe hands. I take this opportunity to invite the youths who are prepared to support the cause for which the TULF stands, to join in their thousands to rally round the party to save the Tamil community from ambitious and greedy politicions. I needless add that the party is open for all who are genuinely committed to the ideals which the party stand for.