ECP minister Uduman Lebbe urges government to disarm TMVP

Minister Uduman Lebbe, a member of the ruling coalition in the EPC, told BBC Sandeshaya that the Tamil Makkal Vidutalai Puligal (TMVP), known as Pillayan group, should lay down arms.

EPC Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan also known as Pillyan is the current leader of the TMVP, which is formed by breakaway LTTE leader Karuna amman.

CM refuses to disarm

The TMVP is accused of gross human rights violations including abductions and child recruitment.

Chief Minister Pillayan himself admitted that TMVP cadres are involved in abductions that led to tension in Batticaloa district.

	Chief Minister refuses to lay down arms until 'LTTE is defeated'

Minister in charge of Power, Irrigation, Highways, Water Supply and Housing minister Uduman Lebbe said it is high time that the government seize weapons kept by TMVP.

In an interview with the BBC, Chief Minister Pillayan however refused to lay down arms until the ‘LTTE is defeated’ in the east.

Minister Lebbe expressed hope that the TMVP would soon lay down arms as the paramilitary group has now entered the democratic process.

The TMVP and some Muslim parties contested the EPC polls together with President Rajapaksa’s Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP).