SLFP has now opened a military wing in the party– Hakeem

(April 08, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Speaking at a press conference SLMC leader Rauff Hakeem Commenting on TMVP handing over its weapons said it was a farce because nobody would know how many weapons they had in their possession.

He added they have handed over 77 weapons according to media reports and the TMVP led by Pillayan did it at least symbolically.

SLMC leader went on to say, Minister Vinayagamurthy Muralitharan alias Karuna, earlier declined to lay down arms saying he was under threat from the LTTE and it was understandable.

However, he questioned as to how once he joined the SLFP and said he had no weapons.
Mr.Hakeem further added Karuna’s entry into SLFP was something similar to what existed in the LTTE.

He pointed out despite being an armed organization, the LTTE had a political wing led by the late S.P. Tamil Chelvam. In the very same way, the SLFP has now opened a military wing in the party headed by Karuna.

He also said the government was trying to undermine democracy by changing the electoral system arbitrarily under the cover of the euphoria created by war victories.

The SLMC leader was referring to the Local Authorities Elections (Amendment) Bill presented to Parliament by the government a few months ago to introduce the First‐Past‐the‐ Post system for the election to local bodies.

The SLMC took up the issue with the Supreme Court, which ruled that such amendment should have the approval by the provincial councils because the local authorities come under them.

He challenged the government to declare a general election if possible and ask for a mandate from the public to change electoral system.

-Sri Lanka Guardian