LTTE planning to declare UDI in January

Rajmi Manatunga and Nadira Gunatilleke

COLOMBO: The Government yesterday disclosed that the LTTE was conspiring to unilaterally declare an independent State in the North on January 18, 2008.

Addressing the weekly situation briefing, Highways and Road Development Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle said they will never allow the LTTE to realise its dreams regarding a unilateral declaration of independence for a state of Tamil Eelam.

“To obtain support for these moves, they tried to get a resolution passed against Sri Lanka at the United Nations General Assembly. But this attempt was foiled by the Government delegation, including Minister G.L. Peiris and Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the UN Dayan Jayatilleke,” he said.

The Minister stated that the LTTE had also made arrangements to send e-mails to the US President, UN Secretary General and to the UN office in Geneva justifying a UDI.

“It is not clear as to why they have selected January 18 for this. But we will not let them achieve their objective,” he said pointing out the measures taken by the Government to ensure the well-being of the people of the North and East.

Among them are major projects for developing the infrastructure and other facilities in the East for which the Government will spend US $ 6,000 million.