Sri Lanka, Jan. 31 -- President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has paid his respects to Mavai Senathirajah, the patron and political group leader of the Illankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK), who passed away recently.

Senathirajah, aged 83, was laid to rest at his residence in Mavattpuram, Jaffna. He had been hospitalized at the Jaffna Teaching Hospital following an accident in which he fell inside his house, sustaining head injuries. The hospital's Director, Dr. T. Sathyamoorthy, confirmed that Senathirajah suffered internal bleeding from the fall and was receiving treatment until his death.

A key political figure in the Tamil National Alliance, Senathirajah was instrumental in negotiating with both the government and the LTTE during the war to...