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{{Short description|Sri Lankan Tamil politician (1942–2025)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|honorific-prefix = [[The Honourable|Hon.]]
|name = Mavai Senathirajah
|native_name = மாவை சேனாதிராஜா <br> මාවෙයි සේනාධිරාජා
|native_name_lang = ta
|honorific-suffix = [[Member of Parliament|MP]]
|image = Mavai Senathirajah.jpg
|imagesize =
|caption = Senathirajah in 2015
|constituency_MP1 = [[Jaffna Electoral District|Jaffna District]]
|parliament1 = Sri Lankan
|majority1 =
|term_start1 = 10 October 2000
|term_end1 = 3 March 2020
|predecessor1 =
|successor1 =
|constituency_MP2 = [[National List Member of Parliament|National List]]
|parliament2 = Sri Lankan
|majority2 =
|term_start2 = 1999
|term_end2 = 2000
|predecessor2 = [[Neelan Tiruchelvam]]
|successor2 =
|majority3 =
|term_start3 = 1989
|term_end3 = 1994
|predecessor3 = [[A. Amirthalingam]]
|successor3 =
|birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1942|10|27}}
|birth_place = [[Maviddapuram]], [[British Ceylon]]
|death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2025|01|29|1942|10|27}}
|death_place =
|citizenship =
|nationality = Sri Lankan
|party = [[Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi]]
|otherparty = [[Tamil National Alliance]]
|spouse =
|partner =
|relations =
|children =
|residence =
|alma_mater = [[University of Ceylon, Peradeniya]]
|occupation =
|profession =
|website =
|footnotes =
|blank1 = Ethnicity
|data1 = [[Sri Lankan Tamil]]
|blank2 = Religion
|data2 = [[Hinduism in Sri Lanka|Hindu]]
}}

'''Somasundaram Senathirajah''' ({{langx|ta|சோமசுந்தரம் சேனாதிராஜா}}; {{langx|si|මාවෙයි සේනාධිරාජා}}; 27 October 1942 – 29 January 2025), commonly known as '''Mavai Senathirajah''', was a Sri Lankan politician who was a [[Member of Parliament (Sri Lanka)|Member of Parliament]]. He was the leader of the [[Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi]] (ITAK) from 2014 to 2024, the main constituent party of the [[Tamil National Alliance]] (TNA). He spent much of his political career advocating for [[Tamil nationalism]].

==Early life==
Senathirajah was born in [[Maviddapuram]], [[Jaffna]] on 27 October 1942.<ref>{{cite web|title=Directory of Members: Mavai S. Senathirajah|url=http://www.parliament.lk/en/members-of-parliament/directory-of-members/viewMember/196|publisher=[[Parliament of Sri Lanka]]}}</ref><ref name=deSilva306>{{cite book|last1=de Silva |first1=W. P. P. |last2=Ferdinando |first2=T. C. L. |title=9th Parliament of Sri Lanka |publisher=[[Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited]] |page=306 |url=http://noolaham.net/project/148/14715/14715.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150623233447/http://noolaham.net/project/148/14715/14715.pdf |archive-date=23 June 2015}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=தமிழரசு கட்சியின் முன்னாள் தலைவர் மாவை சேனாதிராஜா காலமானார் - தமிழ்வின் |url=https://tamilwin.com/article/former-tna-leader-mavai-senathiraja-passes-away-1738170586#google_vignette |access-date=30 January 2025 |website=Tamilwin |language=ta}}</ref> He was educated at Veemangamam School and Nadeswara College.<ref name=deSilva306/> After school he joined the [[University of Ceylon, Peradeniya]] as an external student and graduated with a bachelor's degree.<ref name=deSilva306/>

Senathirajah got involved in the [[Sri Lankan Tamil nationalism]] movement at a young age and took part in the 1961 [[satyagraha]].<ref name=deSilva306/> He joined the youth wing of [[Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi]] (ITAK), the Tamil Youth League, in 1962.<ref name=deSilva306/> He was secretary of the Eela Thamil Elanger Eyakam (Eelam Tamil Youth Movement) from 1966 to 1969.<ref name=deSilva306/> He was arrested on several occasions between 1969 and 1983 and spent seven years imprisoned at eight different prisons.<ref name=deSilva306/> He became secretary of the Tamil Youth Front, the youth wing the [[Tamil United Liberation Front]] (TULF), in 1972.<ref name=deSilva306/>

==Career==
Senathirajah was one of the [[Eelam National Democratic Liberation Front|ENDLF]]/[[Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front|EPRLF]]/[[Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization|TELO]]/TULF alliance's candidates in [[Jaffna Electoral District|Jaffna District]] at the [[1989 Sri Lankan parliamentary election|1989 parliamentary election]] but failed to get elected after coming 13th amongst the alliance candidates.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.slelections.gov.lk/pdf/Results_1989%20GENERAL%20ELECTION.PDF |archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20090304101343/http://www.slelections.gov.lk/pdf/Results_1989%20GENERAL%20ELECTION.PDF |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 March 2009 |title=Result of Parliamentary General Election 1989 |publisher=Department of Elections, Sri Lanka}}</ref><ref name=deSilva182>{{cite book|last1=de Silva |first1=W. P. P. |last2=Ferdinando |first2=T. C. L. |title=9th Parliament of Sri Lanka |publisher=[[Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited]] |page=182 |url=http://noolaham.net/project/148/14715/14715.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150623233447/http://noolaham.net/project/148/14715/14715.pdf |archive-date=23 June 2015}}</ref> However, he entered [[Sri Lankan Parliament|Parliament]] in 1989 when he was appointed a [[National List Member of Parliament]] for the TULF, replacing [[A. Amirthalingam]] who had been assassinated on 13 July 1989.<ref name=TC201105>{{cite web|last1=Jeyaraj|first1=D. B. S.|author-link1=|title=Terror unleashed on Tiger supporters in North-East|url=http://transcurrents.com/tamiliana/index.php/archives/category/transcurrents/page/24/|publisher=Transcurrents|date=20 November 2005|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091110120635/http://transcurrents.com/tamiliana/index.php/archives/category/transcurrents/page/24|archive-date=10 November 2009}}</ref> He 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.<ref name=TC201105/><ref>{{cite web |title=Senathirajah - new TULF MP |url=http://lakdiva.com/island/i990815/news.htm |date=15 August 1999 |publisher=[[The Island (Sri Lanka)]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081001182433/http://lakdiva.com/island/i990815/news.htm |archive-date=1 October 2008}}</ref>

Senathirajah was one of the TULF's candidates in [[Jaffna Electoral District|Jaffna District]] at the [[2000 Sri Lankan parliamentary election|2000 parliamentary election]]. He was elected and re-entered Parliament after gaining 10,965 votes.<ref name=pe00>{{cite web|url=http://www.slelections.gov.lk/pdf/preference2000GE.PDF |title=General Election 2000 Preferences |publisher=Department of Elections, Sri Lanka |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100826002922/http://www.slelections.gov.lk/pdf/preference2000GE.PDF |archive-date=26 August 2010 }}</ref> On 20 October 2001, the [[All Ceylon Tamil Congress]], [[Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front]], [[Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization]] and TULF formed the [[Tamil National Alliance]] (TNA).<ref name=DM040410>{{cite news|last1=Jeyaraj|first1=D. B. S.|author-link1=|title=Tamil National Alliance enters critical third phase - 1|url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/print/index.php/opinion1/6933.html|work=[[The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100404042520/http://www.dailymirror.lk/print/index.php/opinion1/6933.html|archive-date=4 April 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Tamil parties sign MOU|url=http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=6400|newspaper=[[TamilNet]]|date=20 October 2001|archive-date=28 October 2021|access-date=19 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028071258/https://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=6400|url-status=live}}</ref> Senathirajah contested the [[2001 Sri Lankan parliamentary election|2001 parliamentary election]] as one of the TNA's candidates in Jaffna District. He was elected and re-entered Parliament after gaining a tally of 33,831 votes.<ref name=pe01>{{cite web|url=http://www.slelections.gov.lk/pdf/preference2001GE.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100304015155/http://www.slelections.gov.lk/pdf/preference2001GE.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 March 2010 |title=General Election 2001 Preferences |publisher=Department of Elections, Sri Lanka}}</ref> He was re-elected at the [[2004 Sri Lankan parliamentary election|2004]], [[2010 Sri Lankan parliamentary election|2010]] and [[2015 Sri Lankan parliamentary election|2015]] parliamentary elections.<ref name=pe04>{{cite web|url=http://www.slelections.gov.lk/pdf/Preference2004GE.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100304015514/http://www.slelections.gov.lk/pdf/Preference2004GE.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 March 2010 |title=General Election 2004 Preferences |publisher=Department of Elections, Sri Lanka}}</ref><ref name=pe10>{{cite web|url=http://www.slelections.gov.lk/pdf/GE2010_preferences/Jaffna_pref_GE2010.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100513035254/http://www.slelections.gov.lk/pdf/GE2010_preferences/Jaffna_pref_GE2010.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 May 2010 |title=Parliamentary General Election - 2010 Jaffna Preferences |publisher=Department of Elections, Sri Lanka }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.documents.gov.lk/Extgzt/2015/PDF/Aug/1928_03/1928_03%20E.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923223730/http://www.documents.gov.lk/Extgzt/2015/PDF/Aug/1928_03/1928_03%20E.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 September 2015 |date=19 August 2015 |title=PART I : SECTION (I) — GENERAL Government Notifications PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS ACT, No. 1 OF 1981 |journal=The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Extraordinary |volume=1928/03 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Ranil tops with over 500,000 votes in Colombo|url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/83949/ranil-tops-with-over-500-000-votes-in-colombo|work=[[The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)]]|date=19 August 2015|archive-date=1 November 2021|access-date=19 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211101125637/https://www.dailymirror.lk/83949/ranil-tops-with-over-500-000-votes-in-colombo|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Preferential Votes |url=http://www.dailynews.lk/?q=political/preferential-votes-2 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150820025307/http://www.dailynews.lk/?q=political/preferential-votes-2 |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 August 2015 |work=[[Daily News (Sri Lanka)]] |date=19 August 2015 }}</ref> He garnered a tally of 38,783 votes in 2004 general election. However, he had a slightly underwhelming numbers during the 2010 election with a count of 20,501 votes.<ref name=":0" /> He was subsequently successful in the 2015 parliamentary election after securing 58,782 votes. He contested the [[2020 Sri Lankan parliamentary election]], but he failed to secure a parliamentary seat despite accumulating 20,358 votes.<ref name=":0" />

In 2013, 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.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=NORTHERN Province CHIEF MINISTERial CANDIDATE STAKES IN THE TNA - DBS Jeyaraj Column {{!}} Daily Mirror |url=https://www.dailymirror.lk/dbs-jeyaraj-column/northern-province-chief-ministerial-candidate-stakes-in-the-tna/192-32324 |access-date=30 January 2025 |website=www.dailymirror.lk |language=en}}</ref> India strongly opposed the planned attempt to nominate Mavai Senathirajah as the chief ministerial candidate by TNA party for the 2013 Northern Provincial Council Elections considering his past history of having formed deep rooted friendship with members of the LTTE.<ref>{{Cite web |title=India rejects Mavai Senadiraja. |url=https://www.hirunews.lk/english/63045/india-rejects-mavai-senadiraja |access-date=30 January 2025 |website=Hiru News |language=en |archive-date=23 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210123114621/https://www.hirunews.lk/english/63045/india-rejects-mavai-senadiraja |url-status=live }}</ref> Senathirajah's decision to step into the candidacy baffled Sampanthan as he initially planned to nominate [[C. V. Vigneswaran]] for the chief minister position for the 2013 Northern Provincial Council Elections.<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 July 2013 |title=Tussle Over Senathirajah Or Wigneswaran Is TNA's Chief Minister Candidate |url=https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/tussle-over-senathirajah-or-wigneswaran-is-tnas-chief-minister-candidate/ |access-date=30 January 2025 |website=Colombo Telegraph |language=en-US |archive-date=2 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230602122008/https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/tussle-over-senathirajah-or-wigneswaran-is-tnas-chief-minister-candidate/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Srinivasan |first=Meera |date=30 January 2025 |title=Sri Lanka's senior Tamil politician and ITAK veteran Mavai Senathirajah no more |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/sri-lankas-senior-tamil-politician-and-itak-veteran-mavai-senathirajah-no-more/article69158728.ece |access-date=30 January 2025 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X |archive-date=30 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250130111615/https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/sri-lankas-senior-tamil-politician-and-itak-veteran-mavai-senathirajah-no-more/article69158728.ece |url-status=live }}</ref>

Senathirajah was general-secretary of ITAK before being elected leader of ITAK on 6 September 2014.<ref name=":1">{{cite news|title=Mavai elected as ITAK's new leader|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/140907/news/mavai-elected-as-itaks-new-leader-116851.html|work=[[The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka)]]|date=7 September 2014|archive-date=1 July 2024|access-date=30 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240701062203/https://www.sundaytimes.lk/140907/news/mavai-elected-as-itaks-new-leader-116851.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Mavai replaces Sampanthan as ITAK leader|url=http://www.tamilguardian.com/article.asp?articleid=12123|work=[[Tamil Guardian]]|date=6 September 2014|archive-date=24 September 2015|access-date=30 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924113056/http://www.tamilguardian.com/article.asp?articleid=12123|url-status=live}}</ref> Senathirajah marched on his way to dethrone the longstanding leader R. Sampanthan, as the latter held onto the party leadership position of ITAK from 2004 to 2014 for nearly a decade. During those years when Sampanthan held onto the leadership position of ITAK, Senathirajah continued to serve in as the general secretary of the party.<ref name=":1" /> Soon after he was elected as the party leader of ITAK, he assured and guaranteed that he would be an hardliner by formulating a 15-point plan of action to take the party forward for a foreseeable future.<ref name=":1" />

Senathirajah was one of a trio of MPs (the other two being [[R. Sampanthan]] and [[M. A. Sumanthiran]]) who led the TNA.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Jeyaraj|first1=D. B. S.|author-link1=|title=Wigneswaran, Senathirajah and the Facade of TNA Unity|url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/32960/wigneswaransenathirajah-and-the-facade-of-tna-unity|work=[[The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)]]|date=27 July 2013|archive-date=22 December 2014|access-date=30 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141222221818/http://www.dailymirror.lk/32960/wigneswaransenathirajah-and-the-facade-of-tna-unity|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Gammanpila|first1=Udaya|author-link1=Udaya Gammanpila|title=TNA's majoritism in minority politics|url=http://www.ceylontoday.lk/76-39291-news-detail-tnas-majoritism-in-minority-politics.html|work=[[Ceylon Today]]|date=4 August 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141222223611/http://www.ceylontoday.lk/76-39291-news-detail-tnas-majoritism-in-minority-politics.html|archive-date=22 December 2014}}</ref> On 7 October 2024, 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]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 October 2024 |title=தமிழரசுக்கட்சியின் தலைவர் பதவியில் இருந்து மாவை சேனாதிராஜா விலகல் {{!}} 30 January 2025 |url=https://www.ilakku.org/mawai-senadhiraja-resigns-from-the-post-of-president-of-the-tamil-rashid-party/?amp |access-date=30 January 2025 |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Death==
Senathirajah was hospitalized and was admitted to the Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) of the Jaffna Teaching Hospital after an accident at his residence.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Former MP Mavai Senathirajah passes away |url=https://www.ft.lk/news/Former-MP-Mavai-Senathirajah-passes-away/56-772416 |access-date=30 January 2025 |website=[[Daily FT]] |language=English |archive-date=30 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250130025040/https://www.ft.lk/news/Former-MP-Mavai-Senathirajah-passes-away/56-772416 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Mavai Senathirajah hospitalised - Breaking News |url=https://www.dailymirror.lk/breaking-news/Mavai-Senathirajah-hospitalised/108-301151 |access-date=30 January 2025 |website=Daily Mirror |language=en |archive-date=30 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250130023535/https://www.dailymirror.lk/breaking-news/Mavai-Senathirajah-hospitalised/108-301151 |url-status=live }}</ref> On 29 January 2025, he died after a brief illness caused by the accident.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Senior Tamil politician Mavai Senathirajah passes away |url=https://www.tamilguardian.com/content/senior-tamil-politician-mavai-senathirajah-passes-away |access-date=30 January 2025 |website=Tamil Guardian}}</ref> He died at the age of 82.<ref>{{cite news|title=Former ITAK MP Mavai Senathirajah passes away|url=https://www.dailymirror.lk/breaking-news/Former-ITAK-MP-Mavai-Senathirajah-passes-away/108-301261|work=[[Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)|Daily Mirror]] |location=Sri Lanka |date=29 January 2025|archive-date=30 January 2025|access-date=5 February 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250130024054/https://www.dailymirror.lk/breaking-news/Former-ITAK-MP-Mavai-Senathirajah-passes-away/108-301261|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Electoral history==
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:left;"
|+ Electoral history of Mavai Senathirajah
! scope=col|Election
! scope=col|Constituency
! scope=col|Party
! scope=col|Votes
! scope=col|Result
|-
| [[1989 Sri Lankan parliamentary election|1989 parliamentary]]<ref name=deSilva182/> || [[Jaffna Electoral District|Jaffna District]] || [[Tamil United Liberation Front|TULF]] || align=right|{{Nts|2820}} || Not elected
|-
| [[2000 Sri Lankan parliamentary election|2000 parliamentary]]<ref name=pe00/> || [[Jaffna Electoral District|Jaffna District]] || [[Tamil United Liberation Front|TULF]] || align=right|{{Nts|10965}} || '''Elected'''
|-
| [[2001 Sri Lankan parliamentary election|2001 parliamentary]]<ref name=pe01/> || [[Jaffna Electoral District|Jaffna District]] || [[Tamil National Alliance|TNA]] || align=right|{{Nts|33831}} || '''Elected'''
|-
| [[2004 Sri Lankan parliamentary election|2004 parliamentary]]<ref name=pe04/> || [[Jaffna Electoral District|Jaffna District]] || [[Tamil National Alliance|TNA]] || align=right|{{Nts|38783}} || '''Elected'''
|-
| [[2010 Sri Lankan parliamentary election|2010 parliamentary]]<ref name=pe10/> || [[Jaffna Electoral District|Jaffna District]] || [[Tamil National Alliance|TNA]] || align=right|{{Nts|20501}} || '''Elected'''
|-
| [[2015 Sri Lankan parliamentary election|2015 parliamentary]]<ref>{{cite news|last=Jayakody|first=Pradeep|title=The Comparison of Preferential Votes in 2015 & 2010|url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/85309/the-comparison-of-preferential-votes-in-2015-2010|work=[[The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)]]|date=28 August 2015|archive-date=30 August 2015|access-date=30 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150830052544/http://www.dailymirror.lk/85309/the-comparison-of-preferential-votes-in-2015-2010|url-status=live}}</ref> || [[Jaffna Electoral District|Jaffna District]] || [[Tamil National Alliance|TNA]] || align=right|{{Nts|58782}} || '''Elected'''
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Commonscatinline}}

{{Members of the 9th Parliament of Sri Lanka}}
{{Members of the 10th Parliament of Sri Lanka}}
{{Members of the 11th Parliament of Sri Lanka}}
{{Members of the 12th Parliament of Sri Lanka}}
{{Members of the 13th Parliament of Sri Lanka}}
{{Members of the 14th Parliament of Sri Lanka}}
{{Members of the 15th Parliament of Sri Lanka}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Senathirajah, Mavai}}
[[Category:1942 births]]
[[Category:2025 deaths]]
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Ceylon (Peradeniya)]]
[[Category:Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi politicians]]
[[Category:Members of the 9th Parliament of Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:Members of the 10th Parliament of Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:Members of the 11th Parliament of Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:Members of the 12th Parliament of Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:Members of the 13th Parliament of Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:Members of the 14th Parliament of Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:Members of the 15th Parliament of Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:Politicians from Northern Province, Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:Sri Lankan Hindus]]
[[Category:Tamil National Alliance politicians]]
[[Category:Tamil politicians]]
[[Category:Tamil United Liberation Front politicians]]

Mavai Senathirajah - Revision history

imported>R. Henrik Nilsson: fron > from