PNM says Co-Chairs are intervening in Sri Lanka's internal matters

Patriotic National Movement (PNM) described the statement issued by Co-Chairs after a meeting in Tokyo on Tuesday as an attempt to impose "imperialist policies" on Sri Lanka.

“Those international leaders have forgotten that Sri Lanka is a sovereign country with a democratically elected government,” PNM General Secretary Wimal Weerawansa told journalists in Colombo.

Karuna and EPDP

Weerawansa, who also is a senior leader of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), accused the Co-Chairs of going beyond the internationally accepted norms by intervening Sri Lanka’s internal affairs.

Those international leaders have forgotten that Sri Lanka is a sovereign country with a democratically elected government   Wimal Weerawansa

The JVP parliamentary group leader said USA, Norway, EU and Japan of becoming a “trumpet” for the Tamil Tigers.

The Co-Chairs has urged both parties to take measures to curb violence in the island nation.

The statement has accused the Government of failing to prevent attacks by Karuna group and the “violent elements” of the EPDP.

LTTE ban

“It (the government) must immediately prevent groups based in its territory from carrying out violence and acts of violence,” the Co-Chairs statement said.

But Weerawansa says only the LTTE accuses EPDP, a member of the Rajapaksa government, of engaged in violence.

The PNM praised the EU for proscribing LTTE as a terrorist outfit.

Banning the LTTE in its territory, the EU has also warned both parties to end violence or “face consequences”.