Tamil-speaking political parties demand Govt to conduct PC polls without delay

Six Tamil-speaking political parties have jointly called on the government to conduct the long-delayed Provincial Council elections without further delay, announcing a collective effort to address issues of common concern.Representatives of the All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC), Ceylon Workers’ Congress (CWC), Democratic Tamil National Alliance (DTNA), Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK), Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), and Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) announced the agreement at a media briefing held in Colombo today (13).Former Member of Parliament M. A. Sumanthiran said the government had pledged to hold Provincial Council elections within one year of assuming office, but no significant progress had been made so far.He said the parties would make a joint appeal to the government to ensure regional representation in governance and to move forward with the election process.The parties reached consensus on four key areas, he said, including the enactment of a new constitution, conducting Provincial Council elections, addressing land-related issues affecting all communities and resolving minority-related concerns through dialogue.Former MP Sumanthiran said the parties had also reaffirmed their commitment to continue discussions through the common platform to promote reconciliation, democratic governance, and the protection of the rights of all communities in Sri Lanka.