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Narrating the victory as "Victory for Tamil people", they urged the incoming President to look at protecting the rights of Tamils and take up initiatives which would improve the livelihood of Tamils.
Tamilisai Sounderrajan, president of BJP's Tamil Nadu unit said that whatever Tamil people felt has come out as a result in the presidential elections. She urged the new President-elect Maitripala Sirisena to see to it that the Tamils who are living in Sri Lanka should get better livelihood and a political solution need to be find out.
While stressing for political rights for Tamils, she said "whoever it is, if they go against law and take revenge on people, they will fail and history again and again reminds it to us."
Tamil Maanila Congress leader G K Vasan told in an interview that it is the victory for Tamils and Rajapaksa has been taught a lesson through this election.
He said, Maitripala Sirisena should not only protect the rights of Tamils, they should be given equal opportunity like Sinhalese and this should be the first priority, while the other focus should be on solving fishermen issue and improve the livelihood of Tamils in the country.
The Congress too welcomed the verdict. Party spokesperson A Gopanna said devolution of powers to the Tamil minority should be the top priority of the new government.
DMDK-leader Vijaykanth said that this is the victory for entire Tamil community and people have given a good verdict, against Rajapaksa, for the crime he had executed during the war against LTTE. He urged the incoming President to give rights for Tamils living in Sri Lanka and should let Tamils to go back and live where they lived.
M H Jawahirullah, legislator from Manithaneya Makkal Katchi (MMK), said that the defeat of Rajapaksa is a warning to all those wanting to install an autocratic rule in a democratic country. In Rajapaksa's rule more than 200 persons belonging to his family occupied influential posts in Sri Lanka, Jawahirullah said.
A political commentator and an expert said that we need to give time to the new president. A few political parties will vanish if the Sri Lankan issue is not there. The announcement on executive presidency by the president-elect is a good move, which will give more powers to Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wikramasinge.
The Prime Minister is more liberal and supports more economic cooperations with India. It was during his period Sri Lanka saw the fastest growth. The parties in Tamil Nadu should give at least six month's time to the new president.
The new government should reduce the Army's presence in the Northern province and should give back the land for the Tamil and should improve their livelihood. It should focus more on agriculture, education and sanitation in these region. There should be a clear roadmap for Northern province, added the expert.
Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu politics
For many regional parties Sri Lankan Tamil issue has been the trump card, experts even go one step ahead and said its their survival, in the State politics.
There are many reasons for this. First and foremost, the sluggish attitude of the Sri Lankan government regarding carrying out a meaningful political solution to the Tamil issue, even after four years of the end of the civil war appears to be the main reason for this anti-Sri Lanka campaign.
Colombo is still far from achieving the promises that were made at the peak of the Eelam War, and at the end of the war.
Tamil Nadu alleged that the Sri Lankan government has failed to stand by its commitment in seeking out a political solution based on devolution of powers under the 13th Amendment of the Sri Lankan Constitution and alleged that innocent civilian were killed during the war. The political parties in the State has been stressing for an international enquiry against Rajapaksa.
The Sri Lankan issue is one subject, which brings all the political parties in the State together, including the two major rival parties - DMK and AIADMK.
Though both the parties dont come eye to eye generally, has been raising voice against the Sri Lankan government, even against Indian government for not taking adequate steps against Sri Lanka in this regard.
