The Illankai Tamil Arasu Katchchi (ITAK) leader Mavai Somasundaram Senathiraja could be considered as truly a dedicated and a diehard politician in the Tamil political arena in Sri Lanka. Hailing from the historic region Mavittapuram in the Northern most tip of Sri Lanka, Mavai S Senathiraja engaged himself as a diehard young volunteer in the ITAK following the footsteps of ITAK founder S J V Chelvanayakam.

Mavittapuram is a historic hamlet in the Kankesanthurai (KKS) constituency represented by late SJV Chelvanayakam. It is in the Mavittapuram region within the KKS, Jaffna’s cement factory existed with providing job opportunities for nearly a three thousand people. It is in KKS region even historically and spiritually significant holy Keerimalai fresh water tank exists where the Hindus in Jaffna perform remembrance rites of their departed beloved ones.

From his very early days Mavai S Senathiraja truly engaged himself in the political activities by volunteering himself to late SJV Chelvanayakam by becoming the leader of the ITAK’s youth wing and guiding the youngsters who joined him in support of the ITAK from 1964 until his entry into the Parliament. He participated as a youngster at the Sathyagraham – Non-violent struggle, and the civil disobedient movement carried out by S J V Chelvanayakam in the early sixties. He was on and off arrested by Police for his anti- Government political activities. Mavai Senathiraja was fondly called by his seniors as `Mavai’ in politics. His supporters and followers called him as Mavai anna. Mavai is the shorten form of his home town Mavittapuram.

He could be considered as an honest Tamil activist who was imprisoned most number of times in the sixties until the Tamil extremism took the center stage. He was placed under Police custody frequently between the years of 1963 to 1983 and detained in prison for more than six and half years. However he didn’t give up his tireless contribution for Tamil struggle and stood by his mentor S J V Chelvanayakam and thereafter the TULF leader late Appapillai Amirthalingam.

He first contested at the Parliamentary polls in 1989 and failed to enter Parliament. However from year 2000 to 2015 he continuously got elected to the Parliament with an overwhelming majority from the Jaffna district. Mavai S Senathiraja served as the General Secretary of the ITAK and became the leader of the party in 2014. Mavi S Senathiraja was a self-made politician who had graduated externally from the University of Peradeniya.

He had strived hard to implement the 13 th Amendment to the Constitution to reach an amicable solution to the North and East crisis. When the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam engaged in thepeace talks, Mavai Senathiraja encouraged the facilitation process carried out by the Norwegian Government. He was even in the good books of the LTTE and the outfit respected him as one of the pioneers of the youth front of the Tamil struggle.

Mavai S Senathiraja during his tenure as Parliamentarian even stood by late ITAK leader R.Sampanthan who had entered the Tamil politics nearly two decades after Mavai S Senathiraja actively engaged in Tamil politics. He had even traveled to Geneva to voice for the families of the disappeared persons at the Human Rights Council. Mavai S Senathiraja travelled to various other countries to in support of seeking an amicable political solution for the Tamil question.

As a prominent Tamil Parliamentarian, Mavai S Senathiraja had taken part at the meetings and discussions on behalf of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA). He was a `lieutenant’ to late ITAK leader R.Sampanthan towards spearheading the Tamil political activities.

Mavai S Senathiraja’s demise created a vacuum in the Tamil politics. However he would be remembered and the politician with a towering personality will go down in the Tamil political history as truly a dedicated and a diehard young politician who had commenced his involvement in Tamil politics as an extremist and later with an unblemished record as a highly respected moderate politician serving for a lengthy period voicing to fulfill the political aspirations of Tamils. Mavi S Senathiraja died at the Jaffna Teaching Hospital after suffering a head injury following a fall at his house in KKS. He was admitted at the Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) at the Jaffna Teaching Hospital where he passed away on January 29, Wednesday.

He was 82 years of age at the time of his death. The family members have notified that his funeral will take place at his home town on February 2.

May his soul Rest In Peace.