Take forward Chelva's ideals - Tamilnadu Don

[TamilNet, Saturday, 26 April 2003, 16:32 GMT]
"We Tamils in Tamilnadu are openly supporting the Palestine liberation struggle. We are free to oppose the aggression of Iraq by the United States of America. But it is sad to state that we in Tamilnadu are prevented from expressing our moral support to our Tamil brethren in Sri Lanka," said former vice chancellor of Thirunelvaely Manonmaniyam Suntharanar University in South India, Professor Dr. K.P.Aravanan, delivering 'Thanthai' Chelvanayakam commemoration speech at the Jaffna University Kailasapathy auditorium Saturday afternoon.

He appealed to the audience to take forward the ideals of the revered late Tamil leader Thanthai Chelvanayakam.

The meeting was held in connection with the 26th death anniversary of the late Tamil leader Mr. S .J. V. Chelvanayakam. Jaffna University Vice Chancellor Professor K.Mohanadas presided.

The parliamentary group leader of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Mr.R.Sampanthan made the welcome speech. He recalled the services rendered by the late leader to find a political solution to the Tamil national question that could make Tamils in the country to live with self-respect in their traditional homeland. Thanthai Chelva dedicated his life for the political liberation of Tamils in the country, Mr.Sampanthan said.

TNA parliamentarian Mr. Mavai Senathirajah in his vote of thanks said Thanthai Chelva reiterated self-determination of Tamils and the right to rule their traditional homeland in the country. The late leader had told Tamils that these could be achieved only through freedom struggle.

Several hundred persons including LTTE Jaffna district political head Mr.C.Ilamparuthi and TNA parliamentarians Mr.N.Raviraj and Mr.M.K.Sivajilingam were present at the meeting, sources said.

Earlier in the morning TNA parliamentarians Messrs R.Sampanthan, Mavai Senathirajah, N.Raviraj and M.K.Sivajilingam and Tamilnadu Professor K.P.Aravanan, LTTE Jaffna district political head Mr.Ilamparuthi paid homage to the late Tamil leader Thanthai Chelvanayakam by garlanding his statue in Jaffna town, the sources said.