EPDP leader appeals to SCOPP Secretary General : Ensure safety of party workers

MULLAITIVU: Secretary General, Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP) and Social Services and Social Welfare Minister Douglas Devananda has urged the Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process (SCOPP) to help his party members of the Puthukudiyiruppu Pradeshiya Sabha area, to carry out their duties without any threat from the LTTE.

As the Puthukudiyiruppu area remains No. 1 under the control of the Government, the EPDP leader has urged the SCOPP to take up the issue of the safety of the Puthukudiyiruppu Pradeshiya Sabha members even at the talks in Geneva. The appeal made by the EPDP leader to the SCOPP Secretary General:

The nomination paper submitted by my party, EPDP, for the Puthukudiyiruppu Pradeshiya Sabha in Mullaitivu district, for the local authorities election - 2006, was the only valid nomination paper. Hence, in terms of the Local Authorities Elections Ordinance, the Returning Officer has requested me, being Secretary General of the party to inform the names of the Chairman, Vice Chairman and the members for the said Pradeshiya Sabha. Puthukudiyiruppu Pradeshiya Sabha area, at present, is not in the control of the Government. The members of the Pradeshiya Sabha who have been elected uncontested, wants to carry on their official duties and serve the people of that area.

They have requested me to make the necessary arrangements to enable them to discharge their duties and to ensure their safety and security while working in Puthukudiyiruppu.

I shall be thankful, if you would include this subject matter too for discussions at the talks between the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE, in Geneva.