Champika exposes secret LTTE-Rajapaksa deal

The Government of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa had allegedly given the LTTE over Rs. 169 million to win their support at the 2005 Presidential election.

Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) leader Champika Ranawaka said that he has all the evidence, including documents, to back the allegations.

At a media briefing this week Rajapaksa had denied allegations he gave the LTTE money and insisted that if he did he would not have looked to defeat them militarily.

However Ranawaka revealed the names of LTTE members who a businessman had met on behalf of Rajapaksa to seal the deals in the guise of tsunami relief.

He also claimed that during discussions Basil Rajapakse had with one LTTE negotiator identified as Emil Kanthan at the businessman?s office, Basil Rajapakse had told Emil Kanthan that “What Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse wants is a boycott of voting in the North, and the PM wants to know what the LTTE would like to have in return.”

In reply at a later date Emil Kanthanhad said that the LTTE wants to purchase some boats and requested for a sum of Rs. 180 million from Basil Rajapakse.

Ranawaka claimed that Basil Rajapakse agreed immediately to provide the said amount of money and on a later day Basil Rajapakse came with a number of large travelling bags to meet Emil Kanthan at the businessman?s office to seal the deal.

The JHU has already filed a complaint with the police claiming the LTTE was given money through the Reconstruction and Development Agency (RADA) which was established by Rajapaksa following the 2004 tsunami. (Colombo Gazette)