Former Opposition Leader and Leader of TNA, MP R. Sampanthan Passes Away at 91

COLOMBO (News 1st): Leader of the Tamil National Alliance, MP R. Sampanthan has passed away.

MP R. Sampanthan, 91 years old, passed away at a private hospital in Colombo last night.

Born on February 5, 1933, R. Sampanthan commenced his career as a lawyer.

In the 1977 general election, he was elected from the Trincomalee district, marking the beginning of his political journey.

He served as a Member of Parliament from 1977 to 1983 and again from 1997 to 2000.

From 2001 until his passing, R. Sampanthan remained a Member of Parliament and notably became the 14th Opposition Leader in the Sri Lankan Parliament, serving in the position from 2015 to 2018.

Following A. Amirthalingam's tenure as Leader of the Opposition in 1977, R. Sampanthan became the second Tamil National Opposition Leader in Sri Lanka's parliamentary history.

Throughout his political career spanning over half a century, he played a pivotal role in the Tamil national political movement, leaving an enduring impact on the political landscape of the country.