Sampanthan told parliament on Thursday that his alliance would oppose the government when it is in the national interest to do so but would support all justifiable policies.
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In his acceptance speech, Sampanthan suggested that substantial power be devolved upon three to five regions in the country to enable their CMs to serve the people in the best possible way.
The TNA last week said its parliamentary group leader must be recognised the leader of the opposition in accordance with parliamentary practice and convention as they are the largest political party in the opposition.
The Foreign Minister MangalAa Samaraweera when referring about the appointment of Sampanthan as the Leader of the Opposition said – “The upholding of Parliamentary convention and tradition marks a departure from the divisive and self-interested partisanship which was a hallmark of our politics since independence”. One of the contentious issues with the leadership is a demand that Suresh Premachandran and Vino Noharthalingam who lost the elections be named on the TNA National List.
Mr. Sampanthan defended his party’s decision. “There was no discrimination and we have given an opportunity to a female candidate too”.
Leaders from parties which make up the Tamil National Alliance have rejected proposals for a domestic investigation into the mass killings of Tamils carried out during the final stages of the armed conflict and reiterated their support for an worldwide accountability mechanism. But finally, the view that the UPFA is not a genuine opposition party, being committed to joining the upcoming National Government, was accepted.
However UPFA member, Udaya Gammanpila said that despite the TNA now having more seats than any other opposition party, they worked against the country, especially by calling for an worldwide domestic probe into war crimes.
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Sampathan became only the second Tamil to take the opposition leader role, after Appapillai Amirthalingam between 1977 and 1983. All TULF MPs resigned en bloc in 1982 in protest against the 6th Amendment and Anura Bandaranaike became the Leader of the Opposition from the SLFP.
