Wimal tells Court:

LTTE gained prominence under Ranil

Sandasen MARASINGHE

National Freedom Front Leader Wimal Weerawansa stated at the District Court yesterday that his position was that groups supporting of the LTTE and dependents from the LTTE gained prominence during the regime of the Ranil Wickremesinghe government.

He made this remark before the Colombo District Judge Laffar Thahir in connection with a defamation plaint filed by Wasantha Perera against Wimal Weerawansa.

Retired Major General Wasantha Perera filed the plaint stating that a comment made by Wimal Weerawansa in the television program 'Visanwadaya' on February 9, 2004 was defamatory of him.

Examined by Gomin Dayasiri, Wimal Weerawansa stated that he had never supported the LTTE as alleged by the plaintiff but he had supported efforts to divulge the identity of those who supported the separatist LTTE as well as those who were depending on the LTTE.

Wimal Weerawansa further said that he at all times maintained that the LTTE should be defeated militarily. He initiated a fund with Rs 10 million to support the war heroes. He said he could remember that the forces retreated in 1999. The Commander in the Vanni then was Major General Wasantha Perera. The LTTE captured the Vanni area and it was under their control until it was freed by the humanitarian operation.

Weerawansa also stated that thereafter an inquiry was held against Wasantha Perera who sent on compulsory retirement. Thereafter he was appointed to the BOI at a salary of Rs. 75,000 during the regime of Chandrika Bandaranaike. It was a privileged appointment.

The case was put off for February 15.