 Following the assassination of its mayoral nominee Pon Mathimugarajah on 26 December 1998, the TULF decided not to appoint a mayor which resulted in Raviraj, who was deputy mayor, becoming de facto mayor.Raviraj was appointed to the TULF politburo in 2000.He contested the 2000 parliamentary election as one of the TULF's candidates in Jaffna District but failed to get elected.