Colombo: Tamil National Alliance has no allegiance to the LTTE as it is not in favour of terrorism, a senior leader of Sri Lanka's main Tamil party has said, rebutting allegations in this regard.
"We do not have any allegiance to the LTTE nor are we committed to their ideology. We stand up for the rights of the Tamil people but we are not in favour of terrorism nor do we encourage it and everyone knows this," Tamil National Alliance MP MA Sumanthiran said.
He also dismissed concerns over resurgence of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), saying it is an effort by political parties to create fear among the people.
"There is no need for concern regarding the return of the LTTE. This is just an attempt by certain parties to create fear among the people. There is absolutely no truth in the claims that the LTTE is attempting to regroup," he said.
"But even if there is such a move the people will not allow it or support it as it is they who have suffered the most during the war. Therefore the people are quite steadfast in not allowing such terrorism to begin again as they know that they will be the ones that are worst affected," he said.
According to UN estimates, up to 40,000 Tamil civilians were killed by security forces during former president Mahinda Rajapaksa's regime that brought an end to the nearly three decades-long war in the country with the defeat of the LTTE in 2009.
TNA is seeking the post of the opposition leader in Parliament for its leader R Sampanthan.
Sumanthiran said that the TNA had not run after ministerial posts and had declined positions even when they were offered, and that they will always stand up for the rights of the Tamil people.
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