22 Facts About Mavai Senathirajah

Somasundaram Senathirajah, commonly known as Mavai Senathirajah, was a Sri Lankan politician who was a Member of Parliament.

Mavai Senathirajah was the leader of the Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi from 2014 to 2024, the main constituent party of the Tamil National Alliance.

Mavai Senathirajah spent much of his political career advocating for Tamil nationalism.

Mavai Senathirajah was educated at Veemangamam School and Nadeswara College.

Mavai Senathirajah got involved in the Sri Lankan Tamil nationalism movement at a young age and took part in the 1961 satyagraha.

Mavai Senathirajah joined the youth wing of Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi, the Tamil Youth League, in 1962.

Mavai Senathirajah was secretary of the Eela Thamil Elanger Eyakam from 1966 to 1969.

Mavai Senathirajah was arrested on several occasions between 1969 and 1983 and spent seven years imprisoned at eight different prisons.

Mavai Senathirajah became secretary of the Tamil Youth Front, the youth wing the Tamil United Liberation Front, in 1972.

Mavai Senathirajah 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.

Mavai Senathirajah was one of the TULF's candidates in Jaffna District at the 2000 parliamentary election.

Mavai Senathirajah was elected and re-entered Parliament after gaining 10,965 votes.

Mavai Senathirajah contested the 2001 parliamentary election as one of the TNA's candidates in Jaffna District.

Mavai Senathirajah was elected and re-entered Parliament after gaining a tally of 33,831 votes.

Mavai Senathirajah was re-elected at the 2004,2010 and 2015 parliamentary elections.

Mavai Senathirajah garnered a tally of 38,783 votes in 2004 general election.

Mavai Senathirajah was successful in the 2015 parliamentary election after securing 58,782 votes.

Mavai Senathirajah contested the 2020 Sri Lankan parliamentary election, but he failed to secure a parliamentary seat despite accumulating 20,358 votes.

In 2013, Mavai 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.

Mavai Senathirajah was general-secretary of ITAK before being elected leader of ITAK on 6 September 2014.

On 7 October 2024, Mavai 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.

Mavai Senathirajah was hospitalized and was admitted to the Emergency Treatment Unit of the Jaffna Teaching Hospital after an accident at his residence.