Pillayan denies role in Maligawa attack

TMVP leader Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, alias Pillayan, yesterday denied that he had had a hand in the 1998 LTTE attack on the Dalada Maligawa and expressed disappointment over growing criticism of his visit to the temple and calls for him to apologise for the attack.

“I am disappointed that some sections see this as some sort of political gimmick. I am visiting all religious institutions purely to strengthen ties between the communities. This should be welcomed instead of being criticised,” TMVP spokesman Azad Maulana quoted Pillayan as saying.

Neranjan Wijeratne, the former Diyawadana Nilame of the Dalada Maligawa, was among those who criticised Pillayan’s visit to the temple and insisted that he apologise for the attack, alleging that Pillayan was among those who had masterminded the attack.

Pillayan, who was a member of the LTTE at the time, had dismissed the allegations saying he hoped history would not repeat itself and strain relations between the country’s Buddhists and Hindus.

Mr. Maulana asserted that the purpose of Pillayan’s visit to the sacred temple was to bridge the religious divide in the country and that it had no political motive.

Pillayan says the LTTE intelligence unit masterminded the operation and that it was a regrettable incident.

Mr. Wijeratne had said that people had not forgotten the attack, which he said was masterminded by Pillayan, and added that the Chief Minister should not have been allowed to meet the Mahanayake Theras under these circumstances.

On January 25, 1998, the LTTE carried out a deadly suicide attack on the temple, killing eight civilians, injuring 25 and causing damage to the temple structure.

The Kandy Mahanayake Theras invoked blessings on the new Eastern Province Chief Minister when he visited the temple last Sunday.

The Mahanayake of the Asgiriya Chapter, the Ven. Udugama Sri Buddharakkhitha Thera, commended the Chief Minister for giving up arms and joining the democratic process.

Accusing some Tamil politicians of trying to provoke Sinhala - Tamil disputes for political gain in the past, the Mahanayake Thera urged Pillayan to work towards establishing national unity.

Security was tightened in and around the Dalada Maligawa as the militant leader turned politician visited Kandy with a group of security personnel on Sunday evening.

Mr. Chandrakanthan was also blessed by the Mahanayake of the Malwatte Chapter, the Ven. Thibbotuwawe Sri Sumangala Mahanayake Thera.

The Mahanayake Thera of the Malwatte Chapter wondered why Sri Lanka’s main communities could not live in harmony in the East -- as they did in Kandy. (ER)

Senior LTTE commander Balraj dies

(Lanka-E-News-2008 May 20, 10.00 PM) The LTTE radio station ‘Voice of tiger’ stated a few hours ago that LTTE overall military commander ‘Balraj’ has died due to a cardiac arrest at Killinochchi today.


‘Voice of tiger’ further said that commander Balraj has been given a posthumous promotion as Brigadier and the LTTE has officially declared 3 days of mourning.

The former LTTE commander Balraj died at about 2.30PM today , he was under treatment at a LTTE hospital at the time.

Balraj headed the well-known Elephant-pass attack as well as the attack to Mullathiv Army camp. Balraj had been treated at Singapore in 2002 for cardiac disease and had reportedly co-ordinate relevant attacks away from the battlefields .

However The SL Army says that Balraj’s death is a heavy loss for the LTTE.

A Blast near the Katugastota Railway Bridge

A blast had occurred along the Katugastota railway track near the long bridge adjacent to the Mahaweli Reach Hotel late last night but there were no reports of any damages or casualties.Kandy-Matale train services are halted temporarily.

Wimal & Nandana form new political Party

Dissident JVP MPs Wimal Weerawansa and Nandana Gunathilake Today formed a new political Party named as National Liberation Front(NLF), colour Gold and the emblem the crown. The documents are alredy sent to the Elections Commissioner to register the Party.

Is it the end of JVP?

UPFA Clinches East - Pillayan as Chief Minister?

The UPFA has won the Eastern Provincial Council polls with 20 seats (308886 votes) while the UNP secured 15 seats (250732 votes), JVP 1 seat (9390 votes), TDNA 1 seat (7714 votes).

Terrorist turned politician Pillayan is more likely to be appointed as Chief Minister.

TMVP leader Pillayan has got the most number of preferential votes for the UPFA in Batticaloa with 41, 936 votes while J. S Mohomad came second with 36,419 votes and M.L.A.M Hisbullah came third with 35,949 votes.

The UNP said today that it would not accept the results of the eastern provincial council election as it was ridden with gross malpractices.
“While people in Trincomalee were brave enough to fight violence unleashed by government and minimized rigging, in both Batticaloa and Ampara the government had a field day with TMVP and rigged votes especially in Tamil areas” says SLMC leader Rauff Hakeem. “With evidence we are going to prove how the government along with Pillayan rigged this election” he added.

Minister of Environment and member of the Sinhala Racist party, Jathika Hela Urumaya,Patali Champika Ranawaka says that the government victory at the Eastern Province Polls has shattered the ‘wild dreams’ of West-backed Ealamists. He added that the election has proven not only Sinhalese even Tamils have placed their faith in the government.