M. A. Sumanthiran Explained

Honorific-Prefix:Hon.
M. A. Sumanthiran
Native Name:Tamil: ம. ஆ. சுமந்திரன்
Sinhala; Sinhalese: එම් ඒ සුමන්තිරන්
Honorific-Suffix:MP, PC
Office1:Member of the Parliament of Sri Lanka
Constituency1:Jaffna District
Term Start1:2015
Constituency2:National List
Term Start2:2010
Term End2:2015
Birth Name:Mathiaparanan Abraham Sumanthiran
Birth Date:9 February 1964
Birth Place:Inuvil, Ceylon
Nationality:Sri Lankan
Party:Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi
Otherparty:Tamil National Alliance
Alma Mater:University of Madras
Monash University
Profession:Lawyer

Mathiaparanan Abraham Sumanthiran, MP, PC (Tamil: மதியாபரணம் ஆபிரகாம் சுமந்திரன்|translit=Matiyāparaṇam Āpirakām Cumantiraṉ. Sinhala; Sinhalese: එම් ඒ සුමන්තිරන්|translit=M A Sumanthiran) born 9 February 1964) is a Sri Lankan Tamil lawyer and politician. A successful civil lawyer who practices civil litigation, human rights and constitutional law, Sumanthiran has served as Member of Parliament from the Jaffna District since 2015 and National List from the 2010 to 2015 from the Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi.[1]

Early life

Sumanthiran was born on 9 February 1964 at the Church of South India's McLeod Hospital in Inuvil in northern Ceylon.[1] [2] His family are from the Vadamarachchi region of the Jaffna peninsula; his father is from Karaveddy and his mother is from Kudathanai.[2] Both of his grandfathers were teachers in Vadamarachchi.[2] Sumanthiran grew up in Colombo and was educated at Royal College, Colombo.[2] [3] After school he joined the University of Madras, graduating with a B.Sc. degree in physics.[4] He then proceeded to Sri Lanka Law College, qualifying as an advocate.[4]

Sumanthiran is a Methodist Christian.[2] [5] He was vice-president of the Methodist Church in Sri Lanka.[6] [7]

Career

Law

Sumanthiran was called to the bar in 1991.[4] He then started practising law in Colombo, appearing in civil litigation cases in the supreme court, court of appeal, commercial high court and district courts.[4] His successful cases include the privatisation of Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation, privatisation of Lanka Marine Services and the closure of Pramuka Bank.[4] He has appeared in a number of fundamental rights cases and judicial reviews of parliamentary legislation and executive action including the charging of levy for water and establishing a revenue authority.[4] He prevented the forced expulsion of Tamils from Colombo and successfully challenged an anti-conversion bill which the courts struck down as being unconstitutional.[4] [8] He has also appeared for petitioners against the proposed 18th and 19th amendments to the constitution which were found to be unconstitutional and required two-thirds majority in Parliament and a referendum.[4] [9] He has worked on a number of public interest cases including the ongoing attempt by residents of the Valikamam North High Security Zone to get their land back from the Sri Lankan military.[4] His human rights work has led to him being threatened, harassed and branded "traitors in black coats" by the Sri Lankan military under the then President's brother Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.[10] [11] [12]

Sumanthiran has become one of Sri Lanka's top human rights and constitutional lawyers.[13] [14] He received an LLM degree in internet and electronic law from Monash University in 2001.[4] [15] He was made a President's Counsel in 2017.[16] [17] [18]

Politics

Following the 2010 parliamentary election Sumanthiran was appointed to the Parliament of Sri Lanka as a National List MP representing the Tamil National Alliance (TNA).[19] [20] [21] In May 2012 he was elected Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi's (ITAK) Secretary for Foreign and Legal Affairs.[22] [23] He became one of ITAK's two Assistant Secretaries in September 2014.[24] [25] Sumanthiran contested the 2015 parliamentary election as one of the TNA's candidates in Jaffna District and was re-elected to Parliament.[26] [27]

In January 2017 the Sri Lanka Police's Terrorist Investigation Department (TID) arrested several former members of the militant Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in connection with the attempted assassination of Sumanthiran.[28] [29] It was alleged that two aborted attempts were made to assassinate Sumanthiran on the B402 Soranapattu-Thalayadi Road near Maruthankerny on 12 December 2016 and 13 January 2017.[30] [31] Five former LTTE cadres - Mariyanayagam Lewis Ajanthan/Louis Mariampillai Ajanthan (alias Jana, Kadalavan) from Championpattu, Maruthankerny; Karalasingham Kulendran (alias Master, Cholai) from Kilinochchi; Murugiah Thavaventhan (alias Vendran) from Kilinochchi; Chandrasekaralingam Vasudevan/Gnanasekaralingam Rajmathan (alias Mathan) from Trincomalee; and Velayanthan Vijayan from Mannar - were charged with possession of explosives and narcotics but the TID informed the magistrates court in Kilinochchi that there had been a plot to assassinate Sumanthiran.[28] [32] [33] The five suspects were bailed in September 2017 by the High Court in Jaffna .[34] The suspects weren't initially charged under the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) but in July 2018 they were indicted under PTA regulations at the High Court in Colombo.[35] [36] [37]

Sumanthiran was re-elected at the 2020 parliamentary election.[38] [39] [40] The preferential vote count held at Jaffna Central College on 6 August 2020 was marred by violent clashes between supporters of various candidates from various parties.[40] Relatives of TNA candidate Sashikala Raviraj (widow of Nadarajah Raviraj) accused Sumanthiran of interfering on the vote count.[41] [42] However, the Center for Monitoring Election Violence, an independent election monitoring body who were present at the count, blamed the incident on lack of understanding of the counting process by candidates and their supporters combined with ability to spread unsubstantiated rumours on social media.[43] Sumanthiran denied the allegations, pointing out the counts were carried out and verified at different locations in each polling division, where counting agents for each candidate were present, before the results were brought to the primary counting centre at Jaffna Central College.[40] [44] [45]

Sumanthiran is one of a trio of MPs (the other two being R. Sampanthan and Mavai Senathirajah) who lead the TNA.[46] [47]

In January 2024, he ran for the leadership of the ITAK against S. Yogeswaran and S. Shritharan. Shritharan was elected by secret ballot on 21 January 2024.[48]

Electoral history

Election! scope=col
Constituencyscope=col colspan="2"Partyscope=col colspan="2"Alliancescope=colVotesscope=colResult
2015 parliamentary[49] Elected
2020 parliamentary[50] Elected

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Directory of Members: M. A. Sumanthiran . . 23 September 2020 . Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, Sri Lanka.
  2. News: Jeyaraj . D. B. S. . Tamil "Extremists" target Sampanthan and Sumanthiran of the TNA as "Traitors" . 23 September 2020 . . 27 February 2015 . Colombo, Sri Lanka.
  3. Web site: Members of Parliament . . https://web.archive.org/web/20141223003959/http://tnapolitics.org/?page_id=231&lang=en . 23 December 2014 . Jaffna, Sri Lanka.
  4. News: Sri Lanka public interest lawyer in parliament . Lanka Business Online . 21 April 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140709025737/http://www.lankabusinessonline.com/news/sri-lanka-public-interest-lawyer-in-parliament/1425229555 . 9 July 2014.
  5. Web site: Church of South India Newsletter . . 2 . July 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090912212510/http://csijaffnadiocese.com/uploads/NewsletterJuly2009.pdf . 12 September 2009.
  6. Web site: JDCSI Welcomes New Vice President of the Methodist Church . . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080420184906/http://www.csijaffnadiocese.com/h.php . 20 April 2008.
  7. News: Dwight . Richard . 164th Anniversary celebration: History of the Methodist Church, Wellawatte . 23 September 2020 . . 10 July 2008 . Colombo, Sri Lanka.
  8. News: SL Supreme Court issues stay order on expelling Tamils from Colombo lodges . 23 September 2020 . . 8 June 2007.
  9. News: CPA challenges 18th and 19th amendments . 23 September 2020 . . 28 September 2002 . Colombo, Sri Lanka.
  10. News: Behind the Rajapaksa brothers' smiles . 23 September 2020 . . . 14 August 2009 . Noida, India.
  11. News: Gotabaya labels popular Colombo attorneys as traitors . 23 September 2020 . . 12 July 2009.
  12. News: Campaign against some lawyers:Rule of law, people's right to justice threatened – Chief Opp. Whip . 23 September 2020 . . 22 July 2009 . Colombo, Sri Lanka.
  13. Web site: Past Hauser Global Scholars . 23 September 2020 . . New York, U.S.A..
  14. News: New President's Counsels . 16 May 2017. 2 February 2021 . Ceylon Daily News.
  15. Web site: Post-war Sri Lanka: The Role of International Justice in Ending Military Oppression and Protecting the Rights of Tamil People . . dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140212194347/http://regnet.anu.edu.au/events/post-war-sri-lanka-role-international-justice-ending-military-oppression-and-protecting . 12 February 2014 . Acton, Australia.
  16. News: 25 senior lawyers made President's Counse . 23 September 2020 . . 27 April 2017 . Colombo, Sri Lanka.
  17. News: Twenty-five senior lawyers appointed President's Counsels . 23 September 2020 . . 27 April 2017 . Colombo, Sri Lanka.
  18. News: 28 new President's Counsel . 23 September 2020 . . 27 May 2017 . Colombo, Sri Lanka.
  19. Part I : Section (I) — General - Government Notifications - Parliamentary Elections - 2010 - Declaration under Article 99A of the Constitution . The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Extraordinary . 21 April 2010 . 1650/19 . 2A . 25 April 2010 . Colombo, Sri Lanka.
  20. News: National list MPs nominated: UPFA-17, UNP-09, DNA-02, and ITAK-01 . 23 September 2020 . . 21 April 2010.
  21. News: The full National List . 23 September 2020 . . 25 April 2010 . Colombo, Sri Lanka . 12.
  22. News: Radhakrishnan . R. K. . Sampanthan re-elected leader of ITAK . 23 September 2020 . . 27 May 2012 . Chennai, India.
  23. News: TNA on the verge of a split over ITAK . 23 September 2020 . . 30 May 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20141222223034/http://www.ceylontoday.lk/27-7141-news-detail-tna-on-the-verge-of-a-split-over-itak.html . 22 December 2014 . Colombo, Sri Lanka.
  24. News: Mavai replaces Sampanthan as ITAK leader . 23 September 2020 . . 6 September 2014.
  25. News: Changes In ITAK Top Posts . 23 September 2020 . Asian Mirror . 7 September 2014.
  26. Part I : Section (I) — General - Government Notifications - The Parliamentary Elections Act, No. 1 of 1981 . The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Extraordinary . 19 August 2015 . 1928/3 . 5A . 20 August 2015 . Colombo, Sri Lanka.
  27. News: Ranil tops with over 500,000 votes in Colombo . 23 September 2020 . . 19 August 2015 . Colombo, Sri Lanka.
  28. News: Jeyaraj . D. B. S. . Overseas LTTE-backed plot to assassinate TNA MP Sumanthiran in Jaffna revealed . 23 September 2020 . . 28 January 2017 . Colombo, Sri Lanka.
  29. News: Srinivasan . Meera . Plot to assassinate TNA legislator uncovered . 23 September 2020 . . 28 January 2017 . Chennai, India.
  30. News: Jeyaraj . D. B. S. . Plot to assassinate Sumanthiran: 4 ex-LTTE cadres remanded . 23 September 2020 . . 28 January 2017 . Colombo, Sri Lanka.
  31. News: Balachandran . P. K. . Four ex-LTTE cadres held for plotting to assassinate Tamil MP Sumanthiran . 23 September 2020 . . 29 January 2017 . Chennai, India.
  32. News: Bastians . Dharisha . TID confirms Sumanthiran was target of assassination plot . 23 September 2020 . . 1 February 2017 . Colombo, Sri Lanka.
  33. News: Police Counter Terrorism Unit warns of LTTE resurgence . 23 September 2020 . . 12 February 2017 . Colombo, Sri Lanka.
  34. News: Attempted murder of Sumanthiran: Suspects granted bail . 23 September 2020 . . 21 September 2017 . Colombo, Sri Lanka.
  35. News: Bastians . Dharisha . TID arrests another suspect in plot to assassinate Sumanthiran . 23 September 2020 . . 31 January 2017 . Colombo, Sri Lanka.
  36. News: Assassination plot against Sumanthiran : Indictments to be served in Colombo High Court tomorrow . 23 September 2020 . . 29 July 2018 . Colombo, Sri Lanka.
  37. News: Charge sheets filed against 5 under PTA, in the Attempted Murder case of Sumanthiran . 23 September 2020 . Tamil Diplomat . 30 July 2018 . London, U.K..
  38. Part I : Section (I) — General - Government Notifications - Parliamentary Elections Act, No. 1 of 1981 . The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Extraordinary . 8 August 2020 . 2187/26 . 5A . 9 August 2020 . Colombo, Sri Lanka.
  39. News: General Election 2020: Preferential votes of Jaffna District . 23 September 2020 . . 7 August 2020 . Colombo, Sri Lanka.
  40. News: Jeyaraj . D. B. S. . Did Sumanthiran Win In Jaffna By "Stealing" Sashikala's Votes? . 23 September 2020 . . 15 August 2020 . Colombo, Sri Lanka.
  41. News: Claims of foul-play over preferential vote count in Jaffna after late night recount . 24 September 2020 . . 6 August 2020.
  42. News: Sumanthiran alleged of exerting Colombo's influence to tamper with preferential vote counts . 24 September 2020 . . 8 August 2020.
  43. News: Kuruwita . Rathindra . Bloody rumpus at Jaffna Central College blamed by CMEV on lack of understanding of counting process . 24 September 2020 . . 8 August 2020 . Colombo, Sri Lanka.
  44. News: Clash at Jaffna counting centre; Row over votes for Sumanthiran and Sasikala . 24 September 2020 . . 9 August 2020 . Colombo, Sri Lanka.
  45. News: Sumanthiran's response to allegations made concerning the TNA preferential count in Jaffna . 24 September 2020 . NewsWire . 7 August 2020 . Nugegoda, Sri Lanka.
  46. News: Jeyaraj . D. B. S. . Wigneswaran, Senathirajah and the Facade of TNA Unity . 23 September 2020 . . 27 July 2013 . Colombo, Sri Lanka.
  47. News: Gammanpila . Udaya . Udaya Gammanpila . TNA's majoritism in minority politics . . 4 August 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20141222223611/http://www.ceylontoday.lk/76-39291-news-detail-tnas-majoritism-in-minority-politics.html . 22 December 2014 . Colombo, Sri Lanka.
  48. News: S. Shritharan elected new ITAK leader . 22 January 2024 . Daily Mirror.
  49. News: Jayakody . Pradeep . The Comparison of Preferential Votes in 2015 & 2010 . 23 September 2020 . . 28 August 2015 . Colombo, Sri Lanka.
  50. News: General Election Preferential Votes . 23 September 2020 . . 8 August 2020 . Colombo Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka . 2.

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