Fernandopullai says 'racist forces' are provoking another communal riot

Trade minister Jeyaraj Fernandopullai said the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) is opposing every other option.

“No to sharing tsunami aid, no to a federal solution, no to interim self-governing council : what are they asking for ? go back to war?” the minister questioned in an interview with the BBC Sandeshaya (BBC Sinhala).

The JVP is threatening to resign from the government after midnight on Wednesday unless the president withdraws from the proposed joint mechanism (JM) with the LTTE to share tsunami relief aid.

Fernandopullai said that he had a last-minute meeting with the JVP on Wednesday to save the alliance.

No to sharing tsunami aid, no to a federal solution, no to interim self-governing council : what are they asking for ? go back to war? Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopullai

He revealed that a committee of ministers led-by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse had a series of meetings with the JVP since the party issued ultimatum.

According to the minister, the JVP has refused a suggestion by President Chandrika Kumaratunga to produce the proposed JM before parliament.

The minister said everybody should be realistic as the government is not in a position to go back to war.

“Those protesters’ children won’t go to the war front if the conflict starts again.”

Fernandopullai blamed the “racist forces” including the all-monk parliamentary party Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) of provoking another communal riot leading to the war.