'Withdraw helicopter facility to Thamilchelvan' -SLFP

[TamilNet, Thursday, 31 July 2003, 16:17 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Freedom Party, the chief constituent of the main opposition People's Alliance in Sri Lanka, Thursday demanded that the United National Front government of Sri Lanka immediately withdraw the helicopter facility provided to the Political Head of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, Mr.S.P.Thamilchelvan, to tour the eastern province, political sources in Colombo said.

The SLFP general secretary, Mr.Maitripala Sirisena, in a statement issued Thursday, condemned the decision of the UNF government to provide helicopters for Mr.Thamilchelvan's use.

"As the LTTE has withdrawn from the peace talks since April this year, there is no justification for providing helicopter facility for Mr.Thamilchelvan to take forward the peace process. Instead, the LTTE is using this transport facility to fulfill their needs," the SLFP statement charged.

Meanwhile, Mr. Thamilchelvan is expected to visit Muttur east Friday as a part of his tour of the eastern province. He is to arrive in Muttur by a Sri Lanka Air Force helicopter provided by the UNF government, LTTE sources said.

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