The Socialist Equality Party (SEP) and the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) in Sri Lanka are holding a public meeting in Jaffna on November 20 to discuss the imperialist war drive, the treacherous role of the Tamil nationalist parties and the socialist program needed to fight the danger of war.

The major imperialist powers, particularly the US, have responded to the most serious economic crisis since the Great Depression in the 1930s by each pursuing its own predatory strategic interests, driving mankind toward another disastrous world war, while unleashing austerity measures against workers and youth at home.

In aggressively pushing for its global domination, the US is preparing for war against Russia and China. As part of its moves to harness countries in South Asia against China, the US sponsored a regime-change operation in Sri Lanka via the presidential election in January last year. Mahinda Rajapakse, who had developed close ties with Beijing, was replaced a president by the pro-US Maithripala Sirisena. Since then, the Colombo government has increasingly collaborated with US moves in Asia.

The Tamil bourgeois parties, including the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), are openly supporting US imperialism and silently backing its aggressive wars in the Middle East and its provocations against China and Russia. They backed the ousting of Rajapakse and continue to support the current pro-US government. Top US officials visiting Sri Lanka routinely meet TNA leaders, who assure them of the TNA’s support for Washington and plead for its backing in securing privileges for the Tamil elite in return.

With our sister parties of the International Committee of the Fourth International, we are fighting to build an anti-war movement of the working class in Asia and internationally on the basis of international socialism. As an essential part of this struggle, the SEP is fighting to unite Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim workers in Sri Lanka against the Colombo government’s moves to tie the country into the US war drive in Asia. The political exposure of the various Tamil nationalist organisations is a critical part of that fight.

We call upon workers, youths, students, intellectuals and WSWS readers to attend our Jaffna meeting and participate in this important political discussion.

Venue: Canteen hall, Public Library, Jaffna

Date and Time: Sunday, November 20, 3.30 p.m.