MR rejects JVP's allegations

Former president Mahinda Rajapaksa today rejected the JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s allegation that if a Presidential Commission of Inquiry finds him guilty of having given money to the LTTE, he could be deprived of his civic rights. ''Speaking at an election meeting yesterday, JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that president Maithripala Sirisena had told him that if a Presidential Commission of Inquiry finds president Rajapaksa guilty of having given money to the LTTE, he could be deprived of his civic rights. JVP speakers have beentrying to mislead voters by saying that there was no point in voting for the UPFA because Mr Mahinda Rajapaksa could lose his civic rights. The public should be vigilant about such falsehoods being propagated by bankrupt politicians.'' a statement from his office said. ''Firstly, former president Mahinda Rajapaksa did not give money to the LTTE. On the contrary, it was he who defeated the LTTE. It was president Ranasinghe Premadasa who gave money and weapons to the terrorists. Secondly, no Presidential Commission has recommended that Mr Rajapaksa be deprived of his civic rights. Thirdly a Presidential Commission of Inquiry cannot deprive anybody of his civic rights unless parliament passes a resolution to that effect with a two thirds majority. If at all anybody stands a chance of getting a two thirds majority in parliament next time, it is the UPFA and not the UNP-JVP alliance.'' it said.