Sri Lanka, Jan. 31 -- Former Parliamentarian and senior leader of the Ilankai Thamil Arasu Katchchi (ITAK) Mavai Senathirajah passed away on Wednesday while receiving treatments at the Jaffna Teaching Hospital. He was 82. He had been admitted to the hospital following a fall at his residence on January 28.

Senathirajah led the Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) which is the main constituent party of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) from 2014 to 2024. He joined the youth wing of the party, in 1962 and became secretary of the Tamil Youth Front; the youth wing the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF), in 1972.

He entered Parliament in 1989 when he was appointed as a National List Member of Parliament for the TULF, and re-entered Parliame...