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Douglas defends links with Karuna
Minister and EPDP leader Douglas Devananda yesterday defending his moves to encourage Karuna to join the political mainstream said the rebel eastern leader would register his political party after the provincial elections.

"Although I am a cabinet minister, I am also a party leader and therefore I may have different policies," Mr. Devananda told The Sunday Times. He said he was helping Karuna "in the national interest" and was advising him against returning to war or fighting against LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran and his cadres.

He said he had not informed President Chandrika Kumaratunga about his links with Karuna and reiterated he would support anyone who wanted to enter the mainstream democratic politics.

Mr. Devananda said he had also advised Karuna to follow the path the EPDP had adopted and told him that any armed conflict would not help bring about a peaceful solution to the problems of the Tamil people.
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