Chennai: Cutting across party lines, political leaders in Tamil Nadu celebrated the ouster of Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa on Friday. In Chennai, cadres of Tamil nationalist movements distributed sweets as the news of the Lankan presidential polls broke. Tamil evening dailies carried headlines blaring Rajapaksa's defeat at the hands of the Tamils. Passers-by and rail passengers in Egmore were given sweets by the cadres of Viduthalai Siruthaigal Katchi and Naam Thamizhar Katchi. Whatsapp, twitter and FB were filled with anti Rajapaksa messages even as statements from political parties poured in.
Most of the political leaders urged Sirisena to allow the entry of the UN Human Rights Council investigators into his country to hold a probe into alleged war crimes against Tamils. DMK president M. Karunanidhi said that both the winner and loser should think over past incidents and reform the ethnic issues involving Tamils. MDMK founder Vaiko termed the Rajapaksa's defeat as 'justice by Tamils'.
DMDK founder Vijayakanth said that the victory of Sirisena was a victory for the Tamils and insisted that the new government under him should rehabilitate the Tamils in their home towns and restore their rights.
Minister of state for road transport and highways Pon Radhakrishnan hailed the outcome of Lankan polls and congratulated Maithripala Sirisena for his victory. BJP State President Tamilisai Soundararajan said that the people of Sri Lanka had taught 'a fitting and historic lesson' to Rajapaksa in the polls. PMK founder S Ramadoss, VCK leader Thol Thirumavalvan TMC (M) chief G.K. Vasan and DK leader K. Veeramani also hailed Rajapaksa defeat.
