Mr. Weerawansa has accused the petitioner of 'fleeing' from a SLA camp

Major General (retired) Vasantha Perera told Colombo district court that the JVP was angry that he conducted investigations on the alleged deals.

Maj. Gen. Perera said he informed the then government and took measures to prevent further deals between the JVP and the LTTE during late 80s.

'Era of terror'

The JVP's second armed uprising against the state was crushed down by the then government led by President R Premadasa.

The period was widely known as 'era of terror' as both parties terrorised people in the south with their heavy handed terrorist and anti-terrorist measures.

	Mr. Premadasa's Govt. is accused of 'crushing' the second JVP uprising

Over 60,000 people, majority of them Sinhala youth in the south, were killed during the uprising.

JVP leader, Somawansa Amerasinghe, publicly admitted that the party was responsible for at least 6000 deaths.

In a television programme on 09 February 2004, JVP propaganda secretary has accused Maj. Gen. Perera of 'fleeing' from SLA camp in Kanagarayankulam as fighting escalated with the LTTE.

Maj. Gen. Perera has worked at the Board of Investment (BoI) after retiring from the SLA as the accusations by Wimal Weerawansa went on air.

Sacked from the job

Mr. Perera has filed a defamatory petition seeking Rs. 50 million from Mr. Weerawansa saying the petitioner lost his job as a result of the accusations.

The JVP, the petitioner says, is angry that he informed the then government the alleged arms deals between the Sinhala nationalists and the Tamil Tigers.

	JVP leader (R) admitted his party killed at least 6000 during late 80s

The JVP that categorically oppose any devolution of power to resolve national question insists on militarily defeating the LTTE.

The party that actively campaigned for Mahinda Rajapaksa at the 2005 November presidential elections, has constantly accused the main opposition, United National Party (UNP), of secret deals with the LTTE.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who has vowed to defeat LTTE terrorism, is also accused of offering at least Rs. 1500 million to the Tamil Tigers before and after the presidential elections.

Sri Lanka parliament agreed to appoint a Select Committee to probe the alleged deal.

Colombo district judge, Sisira Ratnayake, postponed the defamation hearing for 05 May.