Former Presidents May Be Invited to Thanthai Chelva Memorial – Vimaleswari
Vimaleswari, Vice President of the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi, stated that former Presidents Mahinda Rajapaksa and Gotabaya Rajapaksa may be invited to future commemorations of Thanthai Chelva’s memorial day.
She made these remarks while addressing the 49th memorial event of Thanthai Chelva, held yesterday (27.04.2026) at the Thanthai Chelva Hall in Jaffna.
Vimaleswari noted that the memorial event typically sees participation from various Tamil political representatives. However, this year, the presence of G. L. Peiris drew attention, as he also delivered a speech on federalism.
She pointed out that G. L. Peiris had previously played a significant role in peace negotiations between the government and the LTTE but criticized his role, claiming that those talks ultimately failed. She further described him as an inconsistent politician, questioning his current stance on federal governance.
Vimaleswari also remarked that inviting individuals who have consistently maintained their political stance over decades would be more meaningful, adding criticism toward those she accused of weakening national political principles.
The event highlighted ongoing political debates surrounding federalism and the future direction of Tamil political leadership.
