After a gap of 32 years, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) leader R Sampanthan became the first tamilian to lead the opposition of in the Sri Lankan parliament.
A Amirthalingam of the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) was the only other tamilian to hold the position. He was the leader of the opposition between 1977 and 1983.
Rajavarothiam Sampanthan
- Born 5 February 1933
- He is a Sri Lankan Tamil politician and lawyer who has led the Tamil National Alliance since 2001.
- He has also been a Member of Parliament since 2001, and previously served as a Member of Parliament from 1977 to 1983.
- Sampanthan was first elected to Parliament from Trincomalee in 1977 on the ticket of the Federal Party.
- Till now, he served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for more than 22 years.
