Negotiations to end war said treason

[TamilNet, Friday, 23 November 2001, 17:35 GMT]
The United National Party Friday vehemently rejected Sri Lankan government's assertions that it is involved in an insidious conspiracy with the Liberation Tigers against the Sinhala people. State run print and electronic media gave wide publicity since Thursday to a telephone conversation allegedly between ex- UNP Parliamentarian Dr.Jayalath Jayawardena and an agent of the LTTE.

Addressing a press conference in Colombo Friday morning, UNP media spokesman Mr. Karunasena Kodithuwakku denied allegations by Sri Lankan President and her ministers that his party was in cahoots with the Tigers.

The main if not sole thrust of the People's Alliance propaganda machine currently is the claim that the UNP will negotiate with the Tigers and establish an interim administrative council for the north and east.

The PA says that establishing an interim council for the northern and eastern parts of the island is tantamount to giving them (Tamils) a separate state and that President Chandrika Kumaratunga will oppose such devolution tooth and nail with her special executive powers.

The PA propaganda machine is driving home the assertion that negotiating with the Tigers to end the war would be a heinous betrayal of Sinhala national interests.

The UNP is reacting to the PA's allegations by saying that it has no truck with the LTTE and that it is quite mindful of the concerns of the Sinhala people.

Mr. Kodithuwakku showed press persons a photograph of President Chandrika Kumaratunga, her husband cinema actor-politician Vijaya Kumaratunga and Mr. Ossie Abayagunasekera with members of the Liberation Tigers. He said that the President was the one who had real links with the LTTE.

Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena said that the state intelligence organisations or the Police can look into the allegations and charge him if he has committed any crime against the state or breached the law.

A senior political commentator with a Sinhala political weekly told Tamilnet that the accusations and counter allegations about betraying the Sinhala nation by talking to the LTTE is creating a powerful momentum in Sri Lankan politics that is bound to fast gather in force among the Sinhala people. It may hence destroy all possibilities of starting negotiations with the LTTE to end the war eventually, the analyst said.

UNP spokesman Kodithuwakku addressing press conference Friday. To his right: Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena and to his left: former Minister for Constitutional Affairs, Prof. G. L Pieris. (Photo: TamilNet)