M. A. Sumanthiran

Mathiaparanan Abraham Sumanthiran (Tamil: மதியாபரணம் ஆபிரகாம் சுமந்திரன், romanized: Matiyāparaṇam Āpirakām Cumantiraṉ; born 9 February 1964) is a Sri Lankan Tamil lawyer, politician and Member of Parliament.[1]


M. A. Sumanthiran

ம. ஆ. சுமந்திரன்
Sumanthiran in November 2013
Member of the Parliament of Sri Lanka
Assumed office
2015
ConstituencyJaffna District
In office
2010–2015
ConstituencyNational List
Personal details
Born
Mathiaparanan Abraham Sumanthiran

(1964-02-09) 9 February 1964
Inuvil, Ceylon
Political partyIllankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi
Other political
affiliations
Tamil National Alliance
Alma materUniversity of Madras
Monash University
ProfessionLawyer
Websitewww.sumanthiran.com

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][14]

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]

Electoral history

Electoral history of M. A. Sumanthiran
Election Constituency Party Alliance Votes Result
2015 parliamentary[48]Jaffna DistrictIllankai Tamil Arasu KachchiTamil National Alliance58,043Elected
2020 parliamentary[49]Jaffna DistrictIllankai Tamil Arasu KachchiTamil National Alliance27,834Elected

References

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