TNA seeks SLMC support

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) which won the Vavuniya Urban Council at Saturday’s poll, yesterday asked the SLMC to support it and thus provide the TNA the required majority to administer the UC. The SLMC is reported to have responded positively though the modalities were yet to be worked out.

SLMC leader Rauff Hakeem said TNA general secretary Mavai Senathirajah contacted him and asked for his support to secure a majority so that the Vavuniya UC could be administered without any hicups.

“I see no obstacles in supporting the TNA to administer the Council,” Mr. Hakeem said and added that the matter would be discussed with TNA leader R. Sampanthan with a view to arriving at a working arrangement between the two parties.

The TNA took the Vavuniya UC with five seats while the PLOTE won three seats and the UPFA two with the single seat won by the SLMC tilting the balance. The party which receives the highest number of votes at local polls is offered the post of chairman and deputy chairman and a local council chairman is allowed to vote twice when passing the crucial annual budget in the case the ruling party and the opposition has an equal number of votes.

 Mr. Hakeem said that it would be convenient for the ruling party to have a majority then the Council can be administer efficiently or else motions will be presented against the ruling party.

In Vavuniya, two TNA candidates had polled more preferential votes than its main candidate S.N.G. Nathan.