Britain planning to interfere - JVP

Rajmi Manatunga

COLOMBO: The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) yesterday charged the British Government of planning to interfere with the internal affairs of Sri Lanka to facilitate terrorism in the country.

Addressing a press conference, JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva said several UK institutions including the International Development Department, Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the UK Defence Ministry have formulated a Peace Building Strategy (PBS) for Sri Lanka.

"The objective of the strategy is stated as building peace in Sri Lanka. But the ulterior motive is to meddle with the internal affairs of Sri Lanka and create circumstances conducive for terrorism. Their intention is to stop action taken against the LTTE and push the Government to a so-called ceasefire," he said.

Silva said the PBS aimed to assist the Norwegians in encouraging the Government and the LTTE to negotiate in a backdrop where their role in Sri Lanka is diminishing and to discourage the use of small arms by the Security Forces to help the LTTE.

"It has even proposed the restructuring of the Sri Lankan Security Forces. What right do the British authorities have to decide the type of arms or the restructuring of our Forces," he claimed.

He said the JVP will launch a massive protest against these activities since the responsible institutions are turning a blind eye.