UPFA accuses JHU of joining hands with TNA

[TamilNet, Friday, 23 April 2004, 16:52 GMT]
The leaders of Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), the main constituents of the ruling United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA), jointly addressing a press conference Friday, said that the "true form" of the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) has been revealed in parliament when its two parliamentarians voted in the Speaker's election with the main opposition United National Front, thereby "joining hands" with the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), media sources said.

The SLFP General Secretary, Mr.Maithiripala Sirisena, said he was surprised that JHU parliamentarians joined hands with a political party that wanted to create a separate state in the country. " The JHU leadership had earlier told the President and Prime Minister that it would never vote with the TNA and also they publicly stated that they would not obstruct the UPFA activities in parliament," stressed Mr.Sirisena.

JVP Propaganda Secretary and parliamentarian, Mr.Wimal Weerawanse, said "the JHU, which accuses the UPFA government for not supporting the Karuna faction in the clash with LTTE leader, Mr.Pirapaharan, had cast their votes with the TNA, which gets advice from the LTTE leader."

Mr.Weerawanse revealed what he said was the discussion the UPFA leaders had with the JHU leadership before the Speaker's election. " Initially JHU leaders said according to their calculation the UNP would win in the Speaker's election and they would be neutral in the contest. This proved that the JHU was supporting the UNF to get the Speaker post," said Mr.Weerawanse.

UPFA Secretary and Minister, Mr.Susil Premajayantha, said, "A majority of the Buddhists in the country voted for the UPFA. However the JHU has acted against the aspirations of the Buddhists by helping the UNF to get the post of Speaker."