A ruler who granted Rs. 757 m. to a terrorists organization has no right to sit on the President's chair - Kiriella

With the celebrations of the SL Army victory at Thoppigala, government are focusing the attention of our people to take part in festivals all around the country. In the meantime, the opposition is also using its trump cards to reveal the Mahinda-LTTE MOU by various means.

The United National Party (UNP) seeks the appointment of the proposed parliament select committee to look into the evidence available prove that the government provided hundreds of millions of rupees to the LTTE.

Making this statement at a press conference held at the official residence of the Opposition Leader, the Head of the UNP Media Unit Lakshman Kiriella said that the UNP also has an affidavit of the person who witnessed President's Senior Adviser Basil Rajapakse handed over money to the LTTE representative prior to the Presidential.

Mr. Kiriella recalled the government Chief Whip Jeyaraj Fernandopulle's statement when ousted Minister Sripathi Suriyaarachchi revealed about this deal and requested a parliamentary select committee to investigate the matter. Mr. Fernandopulle said that if money had been given produce proof and they would appoint a select committee. Mr. Kiriella challenged to appoint the select committee as the UNP had evidence to prove the allegation.

Mr. Kiriella pointed out that the President, President's Senior Adviser Basil Rajapakse, President's Secretary Lalith Weerathunga and Treasury Secretary P.B. Jayasundara had not responded or corrected the allegation that the government provided money and promised to disarm LTTE as a gift for avoiding 800,000 votes from north and east. He further said that the 205 April Geneva talks were started with a statement that said the ceasefire agreement was illegal but the cause took a U-turn as soon as Mr. Basil Rajapakse arrived in there and at the end of the talks the government agreed to abide to the ceasefire and to disarm paramilitary groups including Karuna faction. He said that the LTTE commenced the war as the government broke the promises.

When the war was in its height in August 2006, after the LTTE closed the Mavilaru sluice gate, the President, on August 02, in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, brought a cabinet memorandum to construct 1200 housing units in north and east to compromise with the LTTE. Mr. Kiriella said that it is extraordinary to bring cabinet papers to build houses in areas such as Kilinochchi and Mullaithivu amidt a severe battle.

Mr.Mahinda Rajapakse as well as JVP and JHU who opposed the move of the former president Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumarathunga to build houses through the P-TOMS, until the LTTE is disarmed, were silent when a cabinet paper was passed to grant Rs. 757 million to build houses in north and east while the war was going on. The qualifications of the companies were not checked and biddings were not called before the constructions were contracted. He said that it was a violation of all the government rules and regulations.

The head offices of some of these companies were tin huts and some offices were abandoned houses. The owners of one of the companies were one wife of Emil Kanthan and her brothers, said Mr. kiriella. The CID is now investigating on the politicians who had links with Emil Kanthan and if the money provided through the President�s cabinet paper has been given to the Emil Kanthan, it will reveal who had links with the LTTE, says Mr. Kiriella.

As a single housing unit was constructed with this Rs. 757 million the UNP could now reveal the false heroes, said Mr. Kiriella.

If a ruler had engaged in this kind of deal he had no right to sit on the chair of the President, Mr. Kiriella said. He also said that the cabinet now discusses the criminal defamation law to stop revealing these facts.

Giving money to a terrorist organization in this way is not only violating the rules of the state but also the international laws. He challenged the government to appoint a parliamentary select committee as the public had a right to know the inside of this deal and warned of sever action if it was not appointed.