Special statement by Minister Devananda:

Maheswaran killing allegation false

Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Minister and EPDP Secretary General Douglas Devananda made a statement in Parliament on June 7, 2010 denying allegations levelled at him on T Maheswaran’s killing

It’s with great pain of mind I wish to bring to your kind notice that some Members of Parliament abuse special Parliamentary privileges that vest with them and use this august assembly as a platform to disseminate false and opinions far from truth concerning me and my party, the EPDP.

T Maheswaran

Minister Douglas Devananda

Our party is continuing to be recognized both nationally and internationally and garnering massive support from the Tamil community for having resorted to pro-people initiatives for the betterment of the people and taking forward a solution that will prove to be successful in achieving political rights of the Tamil speaking people and in such an atmosphere there is no doubt that the disgruntled are in the process of whipping up a rumor mongering scheme to stigmatize the image of my party.

I reiterate in this supreme assembly that we, the EPDP under no circumstances have ever got ‘involved in’ any anti-human activities be it collecting taxes, holding people for ransom, torturing, murder, extortion or any other illegal activity at any point of time.

In a situation such as this, some are engaged in politics of vicious rumour spreading. I wish to bring to your kind attention that we were alleged to have committed crimes, the cases of which are still being heard in Courts of Law, making an every effort to reduce the Judiciary of this country to utter disgrace.

In line with this, Wijayakala Maheswaran, United National Party Member of Parliament, representing Jaffna District made a statement in Parliament on June 30, 2010 allegedly connecting me and my party to the murder of her husband and the murder of Thiruchelvam Kapilnath, a student from Chavakachcheri and transfer of some Magistrates.

Everybody is aware, that at the scene of murder of Maheswaran a person was taken into custody on suspicion, later on investigation, it has been revealed that he was a member of LTTE pistol gang. Mrs. Maheswari is also well aware of this fact.

It’s a fact that there were political differences between late Maheswaran and our party. When Maheswaran wanted to contest the elections, he was warned by the LTTE not to contest. Ignoring this warning Maheswaran contested the elections from Colombo district. Later the LTTE shot him, causing severe injuries. Even after that during the last spell of his life Maheswaran and I maintained cordial connections.

Subsequent to this, a few days before Maheswaran’s murder, he participated in a TV interview of a private channel. At this interview, media personnel who conducted it, made a well-planned and deliberate effort for Late Maheshwaran to express views criticizing our party. Many people who watched this program agreed with me that the media personnel induced Maheswaran to express what he wanted.

The Tiger leadership through the media personnel who interviewed Late Maheshwaran strategically planned to pass on the message to the public that there was a simmering tension between our party and Late Maheshwaran, and when we started criticizing Late Maheshwaran’s views, it was ripe time for the Tiger leadership to put an end to Maheshwaran’s life. This is a well-known fact to everyone.

As it’s our democratic norm to reply ideas with ideas, I do so even at this August Assembly. I also state at this Supreme Assembly that we time and again, have proved that we never resorted to arms when responding to expression of ideas be it anybody.

I was well aware of the Tiger tactics in planning murders. I knew their modus operandi will, that’s show I was able to save my life.

The murder case of Thiruchelvam Kapilnath, student from Chavakachcheri is being heard at the Chavakachcheri Magistrate Court. The Police are after a member of Tiger Organization, named Jeevan who is supposed to have committed this murder and Mrs Maheshwaran has made an absolute false allegation against us in the Parliament regarding this murder.

It’s a well known fact that the Judicial Service Commission recently effected islandwide transfers and with that move a few magistrates from the Northern Region too have been transferred out. Mrs. Maheshwaran has gone to the extent of labelling these transfers as an outcome of political intervention. I wish to point out that this is tantamount to disgracing the initiatives taken by the Judicial Service Commission.

Allegations levelled against me and my party by Mrs Maheswaran are absolutely false and far from truth. I therefore, kindly request you to take necessary steps to have removed the statement made by Mrs Maheswaran against me and my party from the Hanzard.

Similarly, some Tamil newspapers and Private Television Channels have published the allegations that were not made by Mrs Maheswaran, together with other expressions of opinion. I urge the speaker to take steps to carry out an investigation into this matter forthwith. And at the same time instruct the newspapers, TV Channels and other media to give the same publicity to my statement that was given to Mrs. Maheswaran.

I request through this Assembly to expedite the legal proceedings concerning the murders of Maheswaran and Thiruchelvam Kapilnath and punishment meted out to the perpetrators of the crimes as early as possible.

I request the Speaker not to grant permission to utilize this esteemed Assembly to make false allegations against me and my party any further.