|
|
 |
 |
| Sunday, 1 September 2002 |
 |
|
 |
Security |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Kayts incident: probe report blames EPDP? by Ramani Kangaraarachchi The Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP) has complained that the Harry Goonatillake Committee appointed by the government to inquire into the alleged assault on LTTE members at Velanai in Kayts on June 20 has found its party guilty even before the report was out officially, the 'Sunday Observer' learns from reliable sources. In this regard, EPDP Secretary General and Jaffna District MP, Douglas Devananda, in a letter to Mr. Austin Fernando, Defence Secretary, dated August 18, quoting some media reports states that the committee has blamed the Sri Lanka Navy and another party, either the EPDP or the Democratic People's Assembly (DPA), for the incident. However, no mention of the date or the media source was cited. The report of an earlier probe committee on the same incident headed by Rear Admiral Dharmapriya, which absolved the EPDP of any involvement in the incident was also cited in the letter. The Harry Goonatillake Committee was appointed by the Ministry of Defence allegedly due to pressure from the LTTE and defines its other member Mr. C.V.K. Sivaghanam as an ardent supporter of the LTTE and contested the last parliamentary elections on the Tamil National Alliance ticket. Mr Devananda accuses the Harry Goonatillake Committee of having come to an ex-parte conclusion without giving the EPDP a chance to defend itself. According to Defence Ministry sources, Mr. Thevarajah, an ex-MP of EPDP, when asked to explain their views did not do so despite air transport being made available to him, nor his party make representations before the committee by August 2, although it had completed its investigations by then. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
