TNA to support Maithri

By Ananth Palakidnar

The Tamil National Alliance is expected to announce its support to the Common Opposition Candidate Maithripala Sirisena, at his first meeting, scheduled to be held in Jaffna on Tuesday, 30 December.
According to sources, Sirisena will address his first Jaffna meeting at Muththirai Chanthi in Nallur, where the TNA ‘s General Secretary and the Ilankai Thamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) President Mavai S. Senathiraja is expected to announce the alliance’s support to him.
Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, Dr. Rajitha Senaratne with several prominent political figures from the UNP, will address the Jaffna rally.
Meanwhile,, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Leader R. Sampanthan, who was on medication in India, is expected to arrive at Colombo today (28) and the TNA members will hold a special meeting with him to discuss the forthcoming Presidential Polls, sources said.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa will also hold his first Presidential Election rally in Jaffna on Friday, 2 January.
The train service to the Northern-most station Kankesanthurai (KKS) from Jaffna will also resume on 02 January.
However, taking into consideration the election laws, President Rajapaksa will not inaugurate the train service officially. But he is expected to buy a ticket at the Jaffna Railway Station and travel by train to KKS.
President Rajapaksa’s Jaffna election rally will take place at the Duraiappah Stadium presided over by Minister and EPDP leader Douglas Devananda, sources said.
A week ago, President Rajapaksa appeared for his first election meeting in the Northern Province in the Mullaitivu District followed by the second meeting in the Kilinochchi District.