Wimal to contest LG polls with Somawansa

By Chamodi Gunawardana

The National Freedom Front (NFF) yesterday revealed it would contest the upcoming local government election together with former Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) Leader Somawansa Amarasinghe and 10 constituent parties of the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA).

NFF Leader and MP Wimal Weerawansa said the discussions regarding the formation of a separate front would be conducted within the next few weeks. “We expect to arrange 10,000 pocket meetings by the end of this year to create awareness among grassroots level rural voters regarding our political plans,” he expressed. Meanwhile, Weerawansa claimed the Government wanted to fulfil requirements of the Tamil diaspora by releasing LTTE prisoners before Deepavali festival. 

“Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapaksha confirmed the Government would release LTTE prisoners who were imprisoned for minor offenses before 10 November. LTTE prisoners who committed serious crimes will be released under the Attorney General’s advisement,” he charged. “Reputable Army personnel are questioned by the Financial Crime Investigation Division (FCID) daily, while LTTE prisoners are being granted freedom. This is how the ‘Good Governance’ Government behaves,” he alleged. Criticising the statement made by the Law and Order Minister Tilak Marapone about the Avant-Garde floating armoury case, Weerawansa claimed: “We can’t guarantee the validity of the statement, but such kind of remark should not be made by a responsible minister.” Marapone stated on Wednesday in Parliament that the Police raided the Avant-Garde ship to impress the new Government. He further said that it was similar to the Millennium City affair in 2002.