JVP denies allegation of arms deal link with LTTE

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) yesterday denied the allegations levelled against the party, accusing it of having had an arms deal with the LTTE during the 1988-’89 period, across the Hambantota coastal area.

JVP Propaganda Secretary Wimal Weerawansa told The Nation that the accusation was cooked up by retired Major General Wasantha Perera in favour of the court case filed against Weerawansa.

“He is trying to influence the procedure of the court with such stories, which are in favour of him. Anyway, we do not believe that anyone will believe those tales as the JVP has contributed immensely to bring the LTTE down to the position in which it is today. He is a retired Army officer and we have to mind that whatever he may say is unofficial,” he added.

Perera filed a case earlier against Weerawansa seeking Rs. 5 million for a statement the MP had made on the Rupavahini’s Visanvada programme.

Weerawansa alleged that the media had twisted the story and reported the incident in the press.
“I was there at the Colombo District Court when Perera made the statement. What he said was that he had investigated in to the matter to check whether the JVP had transactions with the LTTE. He only said that he investigated the issue; he didn’t specifically say that the JVP had an arms deal with the LTTE. It was misinterpreted by the media.”

Extracted from,
http://www.nation.lk/2008/02/17/news4.htm