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R. Sampanthan

The Honourable
R. Sampanthan
MP
இரா. சம்பந்தன்
ආර්. සම්බන්ධන්
R. Sampanthan.jpg
Sampanthan in November 2013
Leader of the Opposition
Assumed office
3 September 2015
President Maithripala Sirisena
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe
Preceded by Nimal Siripala De Silva
Leader of the Tamil National Alliance
Assumed office
2001
Member of the Sri Lankan Parliament
for Trincomalee District
Assumed office
5 December 2001
Majority 33,834
In office
1997 – 18 August 2000
Preceded by Arunasalam Thangathurai
Member of the Sri Lankan Parliament
for Trincomalee
In office
21 July 1977 – 7 September 1983
Preceded by B. Neminathan
Majority 15,144
Personal details
Born (1933-02-05) 5 February 1933 (age 84)
Political party Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi
Other political
affiliations
Tamil National Alliance
Alma mater Ceylon Law College
Profession Lawyer
Religion Hindu
Ethnicity Sri Lankan Tamil

Rajavarothiam Sampanthan (Tamil: இராஜவரோதயம் சம்பந்தன்; Sinhalese: රාජවරෝදියම් සම්බන්දන්; born 5 February 1933) is a Sri Lankan Tamil politician and lawyer who has led the Tamil National Alliance since 2001. He has also been a Member of Parliament since 2001, and previously served as a Member of Parliament from 1977 to 1983 and from 1997 to 2000. He was recognised as Leader of the Opposition in September 2015.

Sampanthan was born 5 February 1933. He is the son of A. Rajavarothiam, Superintendent of Stores at the Gal Oya Project. Sampanthan is related to S. Sivapalan and N. R. Rajavarothiam both of whom were MPs for Trincomalee. He was educated at St. Patrick's College, Jaffna, St. Anne's College, Kurunegala, St. Joseph's College, Trincomalee and St. Sebastian's College, Moratuwa. After school he joined Ceylon Law College, graduating as an attorney at law.

Sampanthan married Leeladevi, daughter of P. K. Rudra. They have two sons (Sanjeevan and Senthuran) and one daughter (Krishanthini).

After qualifying Sampanthan practised law in Trincomalee.

Sampanthan joined the Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi's (Federal Party) in 1956. ITAK leader S. J. V. Chelvanayakam offered Sampanthan nomination in 1963 and 1970 but Sampanthan declined.


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