UNP MP interrogated for Vanni visit

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 09 September 1998, 22:11 GMT]
The UNP member of Parliament, Dr.Jayalath Jayawardana, whose controversial visit to the Vanni has created rumblings in the government, was interrogated this evening in Colombo by Police officers.

UNP sources said that the police interrogators had grilled Dr. Jayawardene for four hours this evening from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. about his recent visit to the Vanni.

In particular, his interrogators had tried to find out whether he had had any discussions with the Liberation Tigers during his visit, they said.

Dr.Jayawardana, according to sources close to him, had told his interrogators that he had gone to Madhu solely for the purpose of helping the refugees there and to assess their conditions with a view to providing them with further assistance.

Dr.Jayawardana had categorically denied that he had had any discussions with the Liberation Tigers while he was at Madhu, they said.

Dr.Jayawardana has found himself in the centre of political storm, following the Sri Lankan President's public allegation last night that his visit to the Vanni might have been connected to a conspiracy between the UNP and the LTTE to overthrow her government.

Police sources in Colombo were unable to confirm whether the UNP politician would be interrogated further tomorrow.

Related Articles:
08.09.98   UNP conspiring with the LTTE - President