 | | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
SLFP denies "Karuna link" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tamil Tigers charge that a senior government politician sought assistance from breakaway Karuna group in the presidential campaign. In LTTE held Karadiyanaru in the Batticaloa district, two cadres who allegedly deserted the Karuna group told journalists that Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) general secretary, Minister Maithripala Sirisena met senior Karuna loyalist Mangalan Master in Welikanda. The media briefing held in "Thenaham" hall was conducted by LTTE Batticaloa political leader Ilanthirayan and Ampara political leader Daya Mohan.
The two Karuna deserters who handed themselves over to the LTTE on last Tuesday were introduced as Thurairajasinham Puhalwendan and Saminathan Arulkumar.
Arulkumar told journalists, "the minister requested Mangalan Master to get at least 10,000 votes in favour of Mahinda Rajapaksa". He added that the Karuna group distributed printed hand bills among the Tamil population fulfilling the request of the minister. "Who is Mangalan Master?" queried Minister Sirisena when contacted by BBC Sandeshaya. Denying any connection with "either the Karuna group or the LTTE", the minister said that he has already initiated steps to take legal action against a local weekly for levelling similar charges. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
India's frustration with Sri Lanka over Tamils