A heated controversy has erupted in Jaffna’s political and social circles following a public spat between renowned literary organizer and commentator R. Jeyarajh and Member of Parliament Dr. Ramanathan Archuna.
The clash began after Jeyarajh, who frequently voices his political opinions, responded to a reader’s question in a Q&A session on December 28 regarding the upcoming Local Government (LG) elections in Jaffna.
In response to the question—“Who do you think will win the upcoming LG polls in Jaffna? Who is likely to be the new mayor?”—Jeyarajh predicted that if the current political scenario remains unchanged, Dr. Archuna’s faction could emerge victorious, with a woman named “Thankam” potentially becoming the new Mayoress.
This prediction triggered a strong reaction from Dr. Archuna. In a video statement posted on his official YouTube channel in January, Dr. Archuna lashed out at Jeyarajh for allegedly referring to his female political ally, lawyer Kowsalya, by the nickname “Thankam.”
In a controversial retort, Dr. Archuna suggested that he would send a bottle of Kowsalya’s urine and challenged Jeyarajh to pour it on his head—an act that has since drawn widespread attention and condemnation.
Dr. Archuna’s primary accusation is that Jeyarajh’s use of the name “Thankam” was derogatory.
However, critics argue that it was, in fact, Dr. Archuna himself who had publicly referred to Kowsalya by that nickname in the past, making Jeyarajh’s comment a mere repetition rather than a slur.
The incident has sparked significant debate on social media, with online platforms like North Beat launching polls asking the public to weigh in on who they believe is at fault—Dr. Archuna or Jeyarajh.
As the controversy continues to unfold, it has stirred discussions on political decency, gender sensitivity, and the conduct of public figures in Northern Sri Lanka.
Readers are encouraged to participate in the online poll and share their opinions on this ongoing political drama.
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