Detailed Analytical Report:
Interview with MP Shanakyan Rasamanickam
Interviewee: Hon. Shanakyan Rasamanickam, MP for
Batticaloa District
Affiliation: Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) – a key member party of
the Tamil National Alliance (TNA)
Produced by: SL Speaks Media Network
About the Interviewer:
Palitha Subasinghe is a
seasoned legal professional specializing in civil and criminal litigation since
2005. He holds a Master of Laws in International Commercial Law from the
University of London. As a founding member of Legacy Law Chambers, he plays a
prominent role in handling white-collar crimes, police inquiries, and complex
criminal cases. With over 18 years of experience in litigation and alternative
dispute resolution, Palitha is well-known for facilitating out-of-court
settlements through negotiation, reconciliation, and mediation. He is
exceptionally equipped to tackle multifaceted legal matters.
1. Background and Personal
Profile
Shanakyan Rasamanickam hails from
a well-educated and service-oriented Tamil family. His father is a government
doctor who has served across the Central Province, and his mother, though
trained as a teacher, did not remain in the profession long after marriage. He
has one sibling. Shanakyan studied at Trinity College, Kandy, and pursued
higher education in Australia. His qualifications include a degree in
accounting and experience as an external auditor. He returned to Sri Lanka in
2013 to enter full-time politics. Recently, he completed his LLB and intends to
sit for law entrance exams. Despite time constraints due to political
commitments, he remains dedicated to professional and public service.
2. Political Orientation and
Ethnic Representation
Shanakyan strongly advocates for
decentralised governance and equitable power-sharing. He positions himself not
as a divisive ethnic leader but as a national parliamentarian who represents
Tamil people while maintaining bridges with the Sinhala South. He emphasizes
that the core Tamil political issue lies in systemic underrepresentation in
national decision-making structures since 1948. He calls for constitutional
reforms that empower all ethnicities equally.
Key Points:
- Tamil people have historically been marginalised in
land allocation, state employment, and language policy.
- Even after 75 years, Tamils lack proportional
representation and meaningful executive power.
- Advocates for a Sri Lankan identity that includes
Tamil, Sinhala, and Muslim voices equally.
3. Land, Military Presence
& Civil Rights in the North and East
Shanakyan clarified a widely
misunderstood position: he has never called for the removal of military camps
that are essential to national security. However, he demands the return of
civilian land that is unnecessarily occupied by the military in peacetime.
Examples Highlighted:
- Schools, hospitals, and post offices still under
military occupation cause undue hardship to local communities.
- Children in remote areas must travel long distances
to schools due to occupied facilities.
He argues that these are not
ethnic or separatist demands but matters of civilian justice and
administrative efficiency.
4. Views on Tamil Political
Identity and Sri Lankan Nationalism
Shanakyan passionately challenges
the notion that Tamil parties such as ITAK threaten national unity. He argues
that demanding rights through democratic means should not be construed as
separatist.
He rejects the belief that:
- Tamil political participation in its own identity
diminishes Sri Lankan national identity.
- Voting for a Tamil party is inherently ethnic or
divisive.
He proposes that Sri Lankan
nationalism must be inclusive and multilingual, advocating that even the
national anthem be sung in Tamil as a symbol of shared belonging.
5. Electoral Performance and
Political Accountability
Shanakyan accepted responsibility
for ITAK’s underperformance in some recent elections, especially the
presidential polls, citing internal divisions, vote splitting, and
miscommunication. However, he points out that:
- ITAK remains the third largest party in Parliament.
- ITAK regained dominance at the 2023 Local
Government elections.
- He himself won Batticaloa District with over 65,000
votes despite national trends.
He distinguishes ITAK from
traditional patronage-based politics, claiming his party has not relied on
distributing jobs, houses, or large infrastructure projects but on principled
advocacy.
6. Youth Issues and Emigration
Crisis
Shanakyan emphasized that youth
across Sri Lanka face similar economic challenges. However, Tamil youth face
additional barriers due to lack of political empowerment in governance.
Key issues raised:
- Mass emigration to Western countries or the Middle
East is now the primary aspiration among youth.
- Labour force depletion poses a threat to national
development.
- A future economic model built solely on remittances
is unsustainable.
He called for creating domestic
employment opportunities through industrialization and inclusive economic
planning.
7. Position on Drugs and
Illicit Liquor
He raised grave concern about the
drug epidemic in the North and East:
- Cited the rise in pharmaceutical drug abuse (not
just narcotics).
- Criticised state inefficiency and lack of
enforcement.
- Pointed to corruption and complicity within
enforcement agencies.
He observed that illicit liquor
(kasippu) use is fueled by unaffordable legal alcohol prices and economic
desperation.
8. Assessment of Current
Government and Future Outlook
Shanakyan predicts a deepening
crisis for the current administration, citing a lack of vision, stagnation
in economic growth, and short-term stabilization without real structural
reform.
Critical observations:
- The government has no credible investment roadmap.
- Heavy reliance on remittances and external support
is risky.
- A looming debt repayment cliff in 2028 could
trigger a fiscal collapse unless reforms are made now.
He argued that no national
development is possible without youth inclusion, a merit-based system, and a
shift away from patronage politics.
9. India’s Role in Sri Lanka
Shanakyan offered a nuanced view
of India’s involvement:
- Acknowledges India’s strategic interest in the
North-East due to geographic proximity.
- Credits India with preventing economic collapse in
2022 through crucial financial support.
- Appreciates India's historic push for power
devolution (13A).
Rejects the notion that India
supports Tamils for purely self-serving reasons. Emphasizes that India's
concern for Tamil rights aligns with its security and regional stability
doctrine.
10. Rapid-fire Views on Key
Leaders
|
Leader |
Shanakyan’s View |
|
Ranil Wickremesinghe |
Visionary thinker but ineffective in governance when in power. |
|
Mahinda Rajapaksa |
Lost a historic chance to unite Sri Lanka after winning the war. |
|
Sajith Premadasa |
Honest but overly cautious; missed leadership chances. |
|
Namal Rajapaksa |
Will remain politically relevant, but must shed dynastic politics. |
|
Anura Kumara Dissanayake |
The most popular leader today; struggles to balance JVP-NPP dynamics. |
|
Chandrika Bandaranaike |
Benefitted from family legacy; not independently transformative. |
11. Conclusion
Shanakyan Rasamanickam presents
himself as a bridge-builder—a Tamil parliamentarian who can speak fluent
Sinhala and engage respectfully with the South while fearlessly advocating for
Tamil rights. His politics is rooted in accountability, civil rights, inclusive
development, and a Sri Lankan identity that is multi-ethnic,
multi-lingual, and forward-looking.
He envisions a future where
regional representation and national integration go hand-in-hand, and where
youth of all backgrounds can find prosperity within Sri Lanka, not only
abroad.
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