evidence: ALSO READ: Anura Kumara Dissanayake is the surprising frontrunner in the presidential poll [...] ALSO READ: 'Presidential poll is an opportunity to reshape Sri Lanka': Anura Kumara Dissanayake India’s concerns about his Left leanings and pro-China links and also the Sinhala majoritarian support, has made India look at Premadasa as a promising friend in the neighbourhood. " I am a strong advocate of a permanent seat for India in the UN Security Council," Premadasa said in an exclusive interview to THE WEEK. Premadasa, who finished second in the race in 2109, already has the support of the Tamils who constitute 11 per cent of the total electorate in Sri Lanka. And a large chunk of the hill country Tamils, also back him. "It may seem that everything is fine in Sri Lanka if you look at us being in Colombo. The country is reeling under the worst crisis. The people need a change. With the help of India, we were able to get housing schemes for the hill country Tamils. If Sajith is elected, I am confident that he will continue to engage with India and we can get help for welfare projects," Palani Digambaram, MP from Tamil Progressive Alliance, told THE WEEK.