A collection of Tamil parliamentarians on October 22 wrote a letter addressed to Chamal Rajapaksa, the Sri Lankan Internal Security Minister, asking him to put a stop to the ‘artificial alteration of the demographic pattern’ of the Northern Province, reports Tamil Guardian. Referring to a putative attempt by the Government to redraw the borders of the Vanni District, the letter stated, “This attempt to change the provincial borders have ulterior motives to alter the demographic pattern and systematically weaken Tamils political strength.” The MPs also raised their disappointment that they were not consulted regarding the matter by the relevant officials. The letter called for the ‘immediate attention’ of the authorities to intervene and halt the ‘unethical attempt to change the provincial borders and demographic pattern of the districts.’ The politicians who signed the letter include Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam, the Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF) chief and M.A. Sumanthiran, a senior leader of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA).