Sangaree's attempt to pass confidence motion foiled

[TamilNet, Sunday, 02 November 2003, 12:42 GMT]
The attempt made by the President of the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF), main constituent of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Mr.V.Ananadasangaree to pass a vote of confidence on him at a prayer meeting held at the Jaffna district secretariat of the TULF Sunday was foiled when the participants walked out of the hall, sources in Jaffna said.

Jaffna district TNA parliamentarian Mr.N.Raviraj organized a prayer meeting at the TULF Jaffna secretariat Sunday to stress unity among the leaders and activists of the party. More than hundred party activists including Mr.Raviraj were present at the prayer meeting, sources said.

Mr.Raviraj and other party activists spoke in the meeting stressing the urgent need for consolidating the unity among party leaders.

Participants were taken aback when they saw Mr.Anandasangaree entering the meeting hall with police security.

Mr. Anandasangaree then started speaking about the internal rift in the TULF and the attempt made by some activists to revive the defunct Federal party (Ilankai Thamil Arasu Katchchi-ITAK). He made comments on the action by some TULF parliamentarians, sources said.

He charged that those who refused to extend co-operation to the party at the time of crisis and opportunists have now been engaged in reviving the ITAK.

He appealed to the participants to pass a motion condemning the decisions resolved at the TULF meetings held at Batticaloa and Trincomalee censuring him. He also wanted a motion expressing confidence on him to be passed at the meeting, sources said

Mr.Anandasangaree's appeal led to heated argument between him and Mr.Raviraj who said the prayer meeting was organized to work for the unity of the party and not to support or oppose any one.

Mr.Raviraj said the central working committee and the general council of the TULF should take immediate and constructive steps to bring unity among leaders of the party. He also appealed to those involved in reviving the ITAK to abandon their attempt.

However Mr.Anandasangaree wanted the house to adopt a vote of confidence on him and to condemn the Batticaloa and Trincomalee district branches of the party for adopting resolutions censuring him. But the participants and local leaders of the TULF left the hall bringing the proceeding to abrupt end.

Mr.Anandasangaree left the place immediately with his Police security officers, TULF sources said.