Probe on MP’s ride into Tiger territory

By Chris Kamalendran

The Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) is probing whether Jaffna district Member of Parliament M.K.Sivajilingam had taken away with him a stolen vehicle into Tiger guerrilla controlled Wanni and returned minus the vehicle.

The MP was questioned by the TID for the second time this week on details of the purchase of the vehicle, its registration and ownership. He is due to be questioned for the third time tomorrow.

He was first questioned by the TID last Saturday after officers at the Omanthai checkpoint in Vavuniya reported that the MP accompanied by a driver had travelled in a white Dolphin van (WP-NA 0457) into the LTTE controlled Wanni, but returned without the vehicle.The MP had claimed that the vehicle belonged to the Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO) and he had volunteered to take the vehicle into the Wanni.He said that the vehicle was currently being used by a home for mentally retarded children in Puthukkudiyiruppu, Mullaitivu.Mr. Sivajilingam told The Sunday Times he had informed the TID that the whereabouts of the vehicle could be verified by checking with the Mullaitivu GA.