Veteran Tamil Politician R Sampanthan Passes Away at 91

R Sampanthan, a leading Tamil politician in Sri Lanka, passed away at the age of 91. He led the Tamil National Alliance from 2004 and became the main opposition leader. Sampanthan was dedicated to achieving political autonomy for the Tamil community and was instrumental in drafting a new Constitution.

R Sampanthan, a distinguished Tamil politician and a long-time advocate for political autonomy, passed away at the age of 91 while being treated in a hospital. The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) confirmed the news.

Sampanthan, who had been ailing for some time, missed several parliamentary sessions recently. He has been a pivotal figure in Sri Lankan politics, leading the TNA since 2004 and serving as the opposition leader from 2015 to 2019. Despite the challenges, he remained committed to finding a peaceful resolution to Tamil demands for autonomy.

A brilliant lawyer, Sampanthan first entered Parliament in 1977, representing Trincomalee. Throughout his career, he tirelessly worked towards a negotiated political settlement, underscoring the Tamil community's demand for autonomy since Sri Lanka gained independence from Britain in 1948.

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