Mavai Senathirajah

{{Infobox officeholder

|honorific-prefix = Hon.

|name = Mavai Senathirajah

|native_name = மாவை சேனாதிராஜா
මාවෙයි සේනාධිරාජා

|native_name_lang = ta

|honorific-suffix = MP

|image = Mavai Senathirajah.jpg

|imagesize =

|caption = Senathirajah in 2015

|constituency_MP1 = Jaffna District

|parliament1 = Sri Lankan

|majority1 =

|term_start1 = 10 October 2000

|term_end1 = 3 March 2020

|predecessor1 =

|successor1 =

|constituency_MP2 = National List

|parliament2 = Sri Lankan

|majority2 =

|term_start2 = 1999

|term_end2 = 2000

|predecessor2 = Neelan Tiruchelvam

|successor2 =

|majority3 =

|term_start3 = 1989

|term_end3 = 1994

|predecessor3 = A. Amirthalingam

|successor3 =

|birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1942|10|27}}

|birth_place = Maviddapuram, British Ceylon

|death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2025|01|29|1942|10|27}}

|death_place =

|citizenship =

|nationality = Sri Lankan

|party = Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi

|otherparty = Tamil National Alliance

|spouse =

|partner =

|relations =

|children =

|residence =

|alma_mater = University of Ceylon, Peradeniya

|occupation =

|profession =

|website =

|footnotes =

|blank1 = Ethnicity

|data1 = Sri Lankan Tamil

|blank2 = Religion

|data2 = Hindu

}}

Somasundaram Senathirajah ({{langx|ta|சோமசுந்தரம் சேனாதிராஜா}}; {{langx|si|මාවෙයි සේනාධිරාජා}}; 27 October 1942 – 29 January 2025), commonly known as Mavai Senathirajah, was a Sri Lankan politician who was a Member of Parliament. He was the leader of the Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) from 2014 to 2024, the main constituent party of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA). He spent much of his political career advocating for Tamil nationalism.

Early life

Senathirajah was born in Maviddapuram, Jaffna on 27 October 1942.{{cite web|title=Directory of Members: Mavai S. Senathirajah|url=http://www.parliament.lk/en/members-of-parliament/directory-of-members/viewMember/196|publisher=Parliament of Sri Lanka}}{{cite book|last1=de Silva |first1=W. P. P. |last2=Ferdinando |first2=T. C. L. |title=9th Parliament of Sri Lanka |publisher=Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited |page=306 |url=http://noolaham.net/project/148/14715/14715.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150623233447/http://noolaham.net/project/148/14715/14715.pdf |archive-date=23 June 2015}}{{Cite web |title=தமிழரசு கட்சியின் முன்னாள் தலைவர் மாவை சேனாதிராஜா காலமானார் - தமிழ்வின் |url=https://tamilwin.com/article/former-tna-leader-mavai-senathiraja-passes-away-1738170586#google_vignette |access-date=30 January 2025 |website=Tamilwin |language=ta}} He was educated at Veemangamam School and Nadeswara College. After school he joined the University of Ceylon, Peradeniya as an external student and graduated with a bachelor's degree.

Senathirajah got involved in the Sri Lankan Tamil nationalism movement at a young age and took part in the 1961 satyagraha. He joined the youth wing of Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK), the Tamil Youth League, in 1962. He was secretary of the Eela Thamil Elanger Eyakam (Eelam Tamil Youth Movement) from 1966 to 1969. He was arrested on several occasions between 1969 and 1983 and spent seven years imprisoned at eight different prisons. He became secretary of the Tamil Youth Front, the youth wing the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF), in 1972.

Career

Senathirajah was one of the ENDLF/EPRLF/TELO/TULF alliance's candidates in Jaffna District at the 1989 parliamentary election but failed to get elected after coming 13th amongst the alliance candidates.{{cite web |url=http://www.slelections.gov.lk/pdf/Results_1989%20GENERAL%20ELECTION.PDF |archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20090304101343/http://www.slelections.gov.lk/pdf/Results_1989%20GENERAL%20ELECTION.PDF |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 March 2009 |title=Result of Parliamentary General Election 1989 |publisher=Department of Elections, Sri Lanka}}{{cite book|last1=de Silva |first1=W. P. P. |last2=Ferdinando |first2=T. C. L. |title=9th Parliament of Sri Lanka |publisher=Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited |page=182 |url=http://noolaham.net/project/148/14715/14715.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150623233447/http://noolaham.net/project/148/14715/14715.pdf |archive-date=23 June 2015}} However, he entered Parliament in 1989 when he was appointed a National List Member of Parliament for the TULF, replacing A. Amirthalingam who had been assassinated on 13 July 1989.{{cite web|last1=Jeyaraj|first1=D. B. S.|author-link1=|title=Terror unleashed on Tiger supporters in North-East|url=http://transcurrents.com/tamiliana/index.php/archives/category/transcurrents/page/24/|publisher=Transcurrents|date=20 November 2005|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091110120635/http://transcurrents.com/tamiliana/index.php/archives/category/transcurrents/page/24|archive-date=10 November 2009}} He re-entered Parliament in 1999 as a National List Member of Parliament for the TULF following the assassination of Neelan Tiruchelvam on 29 July 1999.{{cite web |title=Senathirajah - new TULF MP |url=http://lakdiva.com/island/i990815/news.htm |date=15 August 1999 |publisher=The Island (Sri Lanka) |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081001182433/http://lakdiva.com/island/i990815/news.htm |archive-date=1 October 2008}}

Senathirajah was one of the TULF's candidates in Jaffna District at the 2000 parliamentary election. He was elected and re-entered Parliament after gaining 10,965 votes.{{cite web|url=http://www.slelections.gov.lk/pdf/preference2000GE.PDF |title=General Election 2000 Preferences |publisher=Department of Elections, Sri Lanka |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100826002922/http://www.slelections.gov.lk/pdf/preference2000GE.PDF |archive-date=26 August 2010 }} On 20 October 2001, the All Ceylon Tamil Congress, Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front, Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization and TULF formed the Tamil National Alliance (TNA).{{cite news|last1=Jeyaraj|first1=D. B. S.|author-link1=|title=Tamil National Alliance enters critical third phase - 1|url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/print/index.php/opinion1/6933.html|work=The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100404042520/http://www.dailymirror.lk/print/index.php/opinion1/6933.html|archive-date=4 April 2010}}{{cite news|title=Tamil parties sign MOU|url=http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=6400|newspaper=TamilNet|date=20 October 2001|archive-date=28 October 2021|access-date=19 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028071258/https://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=6400|url-status=live}} Senathirajah contested the 2001 parliamentary election as one of the TNA's candidates in Jaffna District. He was elected and re-entered Parliament after gaining a tally of 33,831 votes.{{cite web|url=http://www.slelections.gov.lk/pdf/preference2001GE.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100304015155/http://www.slelections.gov.lk/pdf/preference2001GE.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 March 2010 |title=General Election 2001 Preferences |publisher=Department of Elections, Sri Lanka}} He was re-elected at the 2004, 2010 and 2015 parliamentary elections.{{cite web|url=http://www.slelections.gov.lk/pdf/Preference2004GE.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100304015514/http://www.slelections.gov.lk/pdf/Preference2004GE.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 March 2010 |title=General Election 2004 Preferences |publisher=Department of Elections, Sri Lanka}}{{cite web|url=http://www.slelections.gov.lk/pdf/GE2010_preferences/Jaffna_pref_GE2010.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100513035254/http://www.slelections.gov.lk/pdf/GE2010_preferences/Jaffna_pref_GE2010.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 May 2010 |title=Parliamentary General Election - 2010 Jaffna Preferences |publisher=Department of Elections, Sri Lanka }}{{cite journal|url=http://www.documents.gov.lk/Extgzt/2015/PDF/Aug/1928_03/1928_03%20E.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923223730/http://www.documents.gov.lk/Extgzt/2015/PDF/Aug/1928_03/1928_03%20E.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 September 2015 |date=19 August 2015 |title=PART I : SECTION (I) — GENERAL Government Notifications PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS ACT, No. 1 OF 1981 |journal=The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Extraordinary |volume=1928/03 }}{{cite news|title=Ranil tops with over 500,000 votes in Colombo|url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/83949/ranil-tops-with-over-500-000-votes-in-colombo|work=The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)|date=19 August 2015|archive-date=1 November 2021|access-date=19 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211101125637/https://www.dailymirror.lk/83949/ranil-tops-with-over-500-000-votes-in-colombo|url-status=live}}{{cite news|title=Preferential Votes |url=http://www.dailynews.lk/?q=political/preferential-votes-2 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150820025307/http://www.dailynews.lk/?q=political/preferential-votes-2 |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 August 2015 |work=Daily News (Sri Lanka) |date=19 August 2015 }} He garnered a tally of 38,783 votes in 2004 general election. However, he had a slightly underwhelming numbers during the 2010 election with a count of 20,501 votes. He was subsequently successful in the 2015 parliamentary election after securing 58,782 votes. He contested the 2020 Sri Lankan parliamentary election, but he failed to secure a parliamentary seat despite accumulating 20,358 votes.

In 2013, Senathirajah caused a stir when he requested TNA party members to nominate him as the chief ministerial candidate ahead of the Northern Provincial Council Elections.{{Cite web |title=NORTHERN Province CHIEF MINISTERial CANDIDATE STAKES IN THE TNA - DBS Jeyaraj Column {{!}} Daily Mirror |url=https://www.dailymirror.lk/dbs-jeyaraj-column/northern-province-chief-ministerial-candidate-stakes-in-the-tna/192-32324 |access-date=30 January 2025 |website=www.dailymirror.lk |language=en}} India strongly opposed the planned attempt to nominate Mavai Senathirajah as the chief ministerial candidate by TNA party for the 2013 Northern Provincial Council Elections considering his past history of having formed deep rooted friendship with members of the LTTE.{{Cite web |title=India rejects Mavai Senadiraja. |url=https://www.hirunews.lk/english/63045/india-rejects-mavai-senadiraja |access-date=30 January 2025 |website=Hiru News |language=en |archive-date=23 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210123114621/https://www.hirunews.lk/english/63045/india-rejects-mavai-senadiraja |url-status=live }} Senathirajah's decision to step into the candidacy baffled Sampanthan as he initially planned to nominate C. V. Vigneswaran for the chief minister position for the 2013 Northern Provincial Council Elections.{{Cite web |date=11 July 2013 |title=Tussle Over Senathirajah Or Wigneswaran Is TNA's Chief Minister Candidate |url=https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/tussle-over-senathirajah-or-wigneswaran-is-tnas-chief-minister-candidate/ |access-date=30 January 2025 |website=Colombo Telegraph |language=en-US |archive-date=2 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230602122008/https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/tussle-over-senathirajah-or-wigneswaran-is-tnas-chief-minister-candidate/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last=Srinivasan |first=Meera |date=30 January 2025 |title=Sri Lanka's senior Tamil politician and ITAK veteran Mavai Senathirajah no more |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/sri-lankas-senior-tamil-politician-and-itak-veteran-mavai-senathirajah-no-more/article69158728.ece |access-date=30 January 2025 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X |archive-date=30 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250130111615/https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/sri-lankas-senior-tamil-politician-and-itak-veteran-mavai-senathirajah-no-more/article69158728.ece |url-status=live }}

Senathirajah was general-secretary of ITAK before being elected leader of ITAK on 6 September 2014.{{cite news|title=Mavai elected as ITAK's new leader|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/140907/news/mavai-elected-as-itaks-new-leader-116851.html|work=The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka)|date=7 September 2014|archive-date=1 July 2024|access-date=30 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240701062203/https://www.sundaytimes.lk/140907/news/mavai-elected-as-itaks-new-leader-116851.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|title=Mavai replaces Sampanthan as ITAK leader|url=http://www.tamilguardian.com/article.asp?articleid=12123|work=Tamil Guardian|date=6 September 2014|archive-date=24 September 2015|access-date=30 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924113056/http://www.tamilguardian.com/article.asp?articleid=12123|url-status=live}} Senathirajah marched on his way to dethrone the longstanding leader R. Sampanthan, as the latter held onto the party leadership position of ITAK from 2004 to 2014 for nearly a decade. During those years when Sampanthan held onto the leadership position of ITAK, Senathirajah continued to serve in as the general secretary of the party. Soon after he was elected as the party leader of ITAK, he assured and guaranteed that he would be an hardliner by formulating a 15-point plan of action to take the party forward for a foreseeable future.

Senathirajah was one of a trio of MPs (the other two being R. Sampanthan and M. A. Sumanthiran) who led the TNA.{{cite news|last1=Jeyaraj|first1=D. B. S.|author-link1=|title=Wigneswaran, Senathirajah and the Facade of TNA Unity|url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/32960/wigneswaransenathirajah-and-the-facade-of-tna-unity|work=The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)|date=27 July 2013|archive-date=22 December 2014|access-date=30 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141222221818/http://www.dailymirror.lk/32960/wigneswaransenathirajah-and-the-facade-of-tna-unity|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last1=Gammanpila|first1=Udaya|author-link1=Udaya Gammanpila|title=TNA's majoritism in minority politics|url=http://www.ceylontoday.lk/76-39291-news-detail-tnas-majoritism-in-minority-politics.html|work=Ceylon Today|date=4 August 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141222223611/http://www.ceylontoday.lk/76-39291-news-detail-tnas-majoritism-in-minority-politics.html|archive-date=22 December 2014}} On 7 October 2024, Senathirajah voluntarily stepped down as the party leader of ITAK, amidst to rifts amongst party members during the lead-up to the 2024 Sri Lankan parliamentary election.{{Cite web |date=8 October 2024 |title=தமிழரசுக்கட்சியின் தலைவர் பதவியில் இருந்து மாவை சேனாதிராஜா விலகல் {{!}} 30 January 2025 |url=https://www.ilakku.org/mawai-senadhiraja-resigns-from-the-post-of-president-of-the-tamil-rashid-party/?amp |access-date=30 January 2025 |language=en-US}}

Death

Senathirajah was hospitalized and was admitted to the Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) of the Jaffna Teaching Hospital after an accident at his residence.{{Cite web |title=Former MP Mavai Senathirajah passes away |url=https://www.ft.lk/news/Former-MP-Mavai-Senathirajah-passes-away/56-772416 |access-date=30 January 2025 |website=Daily FT |language=English |archive-date=30 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250130025040/https://www.ft.lk/news/Former-MP-Mavai-Senathirajah-passes-away/56-772416 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Mavai Senathirajah hospitalised - Breaking News |url=https://www.dailymirror.lk/breaking-news/Mavai-Senathirajah-hospitalised/108-301151 |access-date=30 January 2025 |website=Daily Mirror |language=en |archive-date=30 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250130023535/https://www.dailymirror.lk/breaking-news/Mavai-Senathirajah-hospitalised/108-301151 |url-status=live }} On 29 January 2025, he died after a brief illness caused by the accident.{{Cite web |title=Senior Tamil politician Mavai Senathirajah passes away |url=https://www.tamilguardian.com/content/senior-tamil-politician-mavai-senathirajah-passes-away |access-date=30 January 2025 |website=Tamil Guardian}} He died at the age of 82.{{cite news|title=Former ITAK MP Mavai Senathirajah passes away|url=https://www.dailymirror.lk/breaking-news/Former-ITAK-MP-Mavai-Senathirajah-passes-away/108-301261|work=Daily Mirror |location=Sri Lanka |date=29 January 2025|archive-date=30 January 2025|access-date=5 February 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250130024054/https://www.dailymirror.lk/breaking-news/Former-ITAK-MP-Mavai-Senathirajah-passes-away/108-301261|url-status=live}}

Electoral history

class="wikitable" style="text-align:left;" \|+ Electoral history of Mavai Senathirajah ! scope=col\|Election ! scope=col\|Constituency ! scope=col\|Party ! scope=col\|Votes ! scope=col\|Result
1989 parliamentary	Jaffna District	TULF	align=right\|{{Nts\|2820}}	Not elected
2000 parliamentary	Jaffna District	TULF	align=right\|{{Nts\|10965}}	Elected
2001 parliamentary	Jaffna District	TNA	align=right\|{{Nts\|33831}}	Elected
2004 parliamentary	Jaffna District	TNA	align=right\|{{Nts\|38783}}	Elected
2010 parliamentary	Jaffna District	TNA	align=right\|{{Nts\|20501}}	Elected
2015 parliamentary{{cite news\|last=Jayakody\|first=Pradeep\|title=The Comparison of Preferential Votes in 2015 & 2010\|url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/85309/the-comparison-of-preferential-votes-in-2015-2010\|work=The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)\|date=28 August 2015\|archive-date=30 August 2015\|access-date=30 August 2015\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150830052544/http://www.dailymirror.lk/85309/the-comparison-of-preferential-votes-in-2015-2010\|url-status=live}}	Jaffna District	TNA	align=right\|{{Nts\|58782}}	Elected