Police to investigate political statements

[TamilNet, Thursday, 19 November 1998, 12:11 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Police will investigate in to statements made by Mr. Kumar Ponnampalam, leader of the All Ceylon Tamil Congress, during a debate on private TV channel, Swarnavahini press reports said today.

Mr. Ponnampalam, according to the Sinhala daily "Divaina", had said that he was a supporter of the Liberation Tigers and called the Sri Lankan Army as a "Sinhala" Army during a debate on the TV.

According to the paper, Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) - Crime, Kotakadeniya, had already made arrangements to get a copy of the program from the TV station.

Sri Lankan Public Security Act prohibits the support of banned political movements, and Mr. Ponnampalam could be legally prosecuted for his statements the paper said.

DIG Kotakadeniya has said, according to the paper, that the police had received many complaints accusing Mr. Ponnampalam of trying to flare up racial violence in the country, again, and attempting to ridicule the government.

When Mr. Ponnampalam was contacted by the paper, he had told that he would not make any statement to "Divaina" calling it a racist paper, the paper said further.