Mavai Senathirajah, a Former Parliamentarian and senior leader of the Illankai Tamil Arasu Katchchi (ITAK), has passed away at 82.
He breathed his last yesterday while receiving medical care at the Jaffna Teaching Hospital. Senathirajah had been admitted to the Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) following an accident at his residence.
A seasoned Tamil politician, he served as the leader of ITAK from 2014 to 2024. ITAK is the main constituent party of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA).
His political journey began in 1962 when he joined the Tamil Youth League’s (ITAK) youth wing. In 1972, he became Secretary of the Tamil Youth Front, the youth arm of the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF).
Senathirajah first entered Parliament in 1989 as a National List MP for the TULF and later returned to Parliament in 1999, again via the National List. He successfully contested the 2000 Parliamentary Election from the Jaffna district and was re-elected.
On October 20, 2001, TULF, along with the All Ceylon Tamil Congress, Eelam People’s Revolutionary Liberation Front, and Tamil Eelam Liberation Organisation, formed the Tamil National Alliance (TNA). Senathirajah contested the 2001 Parliamentary Election under the TNA banner and was elected from the Jaffna district. He continued to secure re-election in 2004, 2010, and 2015.
Before becoming the leader of ITAK in September 2014, he also served as the party’s General Secretary.
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