Front Page

Front Page

LTTE denies Jayalath met Tiger official
Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Minister Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena met with the head of the LTTE administrative wing for the Wanni, in Killinochi on Thursday to review the progress of projects funded by the UNHCR. The meeting was held behind closed doors.

However the LTTE had denied meeting the Cabinet Minister and announced that it had not extended its fullest support for the projects initiated by the minister in the Jaffna peninsula. The denial came a day after Dr. Jayawardena addressing a press conference at the UNHCR office in Jaffna told reporters that he had met the LTTE representatives in Jaffna soon after he arrived and that they had assured him that they would support the projects which had been started by him.

The Sunday Times learns that Minister Jayawardena had met with Sinnappah Master, head of the adminstrative service of the LTTE-controlled Wanni district. Dr. Jayawardena's visit to Jaffna had been kept a secret until he had arrived in Palaly.
The minister had visited the UNHCR office where he had summoned Government Agent S. Pathmanathan for a meeting. Later the minister had visited the Nallur Kovil.

Before his departure Mr. Jayawardena had told the press that despite any obstacles he would go ahead with the projects initiated by him. In June pro-LTTE groups had prevented the minister taking part in a ceremony where schools refurbished by the GTZ had been handed over.

Pro-LTTE groups had also prevented Interior Minister John Amaratunga from entering the District Secretary's office in Jaffna while in the Trincomalee district Lands Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne had been forced to cancel a mobile service to be held there last month.

Back to Front Page