The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) created history today by taking part in the national independence day celebrations at Parliament grounds in Kotte, the first time since 1972 when it was decided that Sri Lanka’s main Tamil political parties will boycott independence day celebrations.
TNA leader R. Sampanthan, who was among those who agreed in 1972 to boycott national independence day celebrations, attended today’s event.
His participation at the national event after 43 years boosted President Maithripala Sirisena’s call for national unity and reconciliation.
The TNA had boycotted national independence day celebrations in the past on the basis that Tamils in Sri Lanka had yet to experience true independence.
