Rajavarodiyam Sampanthan, a highly respected and influential senior politician in Sri Lanka and former opposition leader, passed away on June 30 after being admitted to a private hospital in Colombo due to health complications.
Born on February 5, 1933, he was 91 years old at the time of his passing. Sampanthan is remembered for his significant contributions to Sri Lankan politics and is considered one of the most important and respected figures in the country’s political history. His leadership and political legacy have left a lasting impact on the nation.
Become a lawyer and join politics
R. Sampanthan is widely acknowledged as an astute lawyer and influential leader known for his decisive decision-making abilities.
He studied at St. Patrick’s College, Jaffna, St. Anna’s College, Kurunegala, St. Joseph’s College, Trincomalee, and St. Sebastian’s College, Moratuwa.
Subsequently, he pursued legal studies at the Sri Lanka Law College and was admitted to the bar. Following his legal practice in Trincomalee, he transitioned to a political career.
The leader who won the challenges amid victory and defeat
R. Sampanthan is reputed to have been employed as a storekeeper in the Gal Oya project. His father, Rajavarodiam, is known to have influenced his early political career.
Sampanthan’s journey as a professional politician commenced under the mentorship of S. J. V. Chelvanayagam, where he became a member of the Ilankei Tamil Arasu Kachchi.
In 1956, he actively participated as a member of the Ilankei Tamil Arasu Katchi and pursued the Trincomalee seat in the 1970 general elections. However, he did not secure a mandate to represent the Parliament in that election.
After being elected a Member of Parliament in the 1977 general election, Sampanthan was one of sixteen members of the Tamil United Liberation Front to enter the Parliament.
Despite his unsuccessful attempts in the 1989 and 1994 parliamentary elections, he seized the chance to re-enter Parliament as Trincomalee District Councillor A following the vacancy created after Thangathurai’s assassination.
After being defeated in the parliamentary election of October 2000, R. Sampanthan made a successful comeback to parliamentary politics with a victory in the 2004 election.
Subsequently, he secured re-election in the 2005, 2010, and 2015 General Elections, allowing him to continue representing the Trincomalee district in the Parliament.
The second Tamil leader to become the leader of the opposition
From September 2015 to December 2018, R. Sampanthan held the prestigious position of the opposition leader in the Parliament of Sri Lanka.
Making history, 38 years after Appapillai Amirthalingam’s tenure, R. Sampanthan became the second Tamil opposition leader in Sri Lanka, receiving widespread acclaim and recognition for this milestone achievement.
In the 2015 general election, the United National Front emerged as the leading party, while the Tamil National Alliance secured the second-highest seats.
Despite the United People’s Party holding the second-largest number of seats in the Parliament of Sri Lanka, the Tamil National Alliance, part of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, formed the next largest parliamentary group, ultimately joining the administration to establish a national government.
The second Tamil leader to become the leader of the opposition
In 2015, the members of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, who were part of the joint opposition in the Parliament, contested Sampanthan’s leadership.
They endeavoured to introduce a motion of no-confidence against him. Nevertheless, the situation was de-escalated once Sampanthan was acknowledged and accepted as the rightful leader of the opposition.
An essential factor in Tamil national politics in Sri Lanka
The Tamil National Alliance, established under the guidance of Sampanthan, holds a significant position in the realm of Tamil national politics within Sri Lanka.
The Ilangai Tamil Arasu Katchi, a party led by moderate political figures, managed to bring together factions moving away from armed conflict.
Their principal objective was to promote the welfare of the Tamil populace in the northern and eastern regions through peaceful political engagement, steering clear of armed struggle.
Additionally, the Tamil National Alliance adopted the house symbol of the Ilangei Tamil Arasu Kachchi Party as their own, leveraging it in electoral campaigns.
The pro-LTTE label amid peace
Rajavarothayam Sampanthan, widely regarded as a moderate politician, advocated for peace, harmony, and justice for the Tamil people.
However, his moderation faced criticism from those who believed he was not doing enough for the country and was working against the Sinhalese people.
In 2001, the Sri Lankan government began negotiations with the LTTE, marking a significant turning point. Around the same time, the Tamil National Alliance also initiated discussions with the LTTE.
In a milestone meeting in April 2002, fifteen TNA MPs, led by Sampanthan and Anandasangari, met with Velupillai Prabhakaran and Anton Balasingham in Kilinochchi to explore pathways to peace.
Despite these efforts, the Tamil National Alliance demonstrated hesitance in fully endorsing the LTTE as the primary representative of the Tamil community in Sri Lanka.
Sampanthan encountered fierce opposition from numerous Sinhala political parties and organisations, significantly hampered the peace process’s progress.
Sampanthan, a remarkable Tamil politician, possessed exceptional proficiency in English, Sinhala, and Tamil, a rare accomplishment.
Regrettably, he was viewed as a pro-LTTE leader by the Sinhalese people and was the subject of numerous accusations during anti-terrorism proceedings.
Despite his close association with the LTTE leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran, Sampanthan demonstrated remarkable patience and courage in navigating the challenges he faced in his political journey.
The demise of Sampanthan and the future of Tamil politics
The commentary surrounding the passing of Sampanthan is a reflection of his enduring commitment to political activism until the very end of his life.
He will be remembered as one of the longest-serving leaders in political engagement. His absence raises concerns about the future of Tamil national politics, as many anticipate a substantial impact on its ability to progress.
The loss of Sampanthan has been keenly felt within the Tamil National Alliance-led politics, with Mavey Senadhiraja, a prominent figure in Ilangei Tamil Arasu Katchi, highlighting the significant void left in the Sri Lankan political landscape.
Senadhiraja underscores Sampanthan’s unwavering dedication to championing the rights and concerns of the Tamil people, as well as his ability to diplomatically advocate for their demands. This loss is seen as a seismic shift in the landscape of Sri Lankan politics and beyond.
