Secretary-General A. Lawrence | Leader Mano Ganesan | |
Deputy Leader Palani Digambaran
Velusami Radhakrishnan Founded 3 June 2015 (2015-06-03) | ||
The Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPF; Tamil: தமிழ் முற்போக்கு கூட்டணி Tamiḻ Muṟpōkku Kūṭṭaṇi) is a Sri Lankan political alliance. It was formed in 2015 by the Democratic People's Front (DPF), National Union of Workers (NUW) and the Up-Country People's Front (UCPF) to represent the 1.5 million Tamils, mostly Indian Tamils, living outside the Northern and Eastern provinces.
The 1.6 million Tamils, mostly Sri Lankan Tamils, living in the Northern and Eastern provinces are represented by the Tamil National Alliance which is not active outside the two provinces.
History
On 3 June 2015 a Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Mano Ganesan, Palani Digambaran and Velusami Radhakrishnan, leaders of the DPF, NUW and UPCF respectively, at the Taj Samudra hotel in Colombo. Ganesan was appointed leader of the TPF whilst Digambaran and Radhakrishnan were appointed deputy leaders. A. Lawrence, the secretary of the UCPF, was appointed general-secretary of the TPF.
Although the alliance was focusing on issues affecting Tamil people, particularly Indian Tamils, it would also serve Sinhalese and Muslims. The Ceylon Workers' Congress, the largest political party representing Indian Tamils was excluded from the alliance. The alliance would not contest elections but would fight for the polictial rights of Tamils.
On 5 June 2014 the three members of the alliance announced that they would contest the then upcoming Sri Lankan parliamentary election, 2015 in alliance with the United National Party.