The split in the Tamil rebel organisation took another dramatic turn with the Tigers alleging that at least two frontline ministers of the former United National Front and the party's General Secretary had met a renegade leader of the rebels who fled to Colombo. Four of the female Tamil rebels who accompanied renegade V. Muralitheran alias Karuna from eastern Batticaloa had decamped and regrouped with the rebel organization to which they revealed that Former Ministers Rajitha Senaratne and S.B. Dissanayake met Karuna in a Colombo hotel.
| It was just for drinks, though. Nothng happened... |
The female cadres who are being debriefed by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in northern Kilinochchi, also revealed that UNF General Secretary Malik Samarawickrema, a close confidante of former prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe met Karuna.
| Hey! He's a popular guy! Knows all the latest dance steps... |
Last week a junior UNF nominated MP Ali Zahir Maulana resigned from Parliament after accepting that he accompanied Karuna to safety on April 12, as revealed by the four women rebels, but the party disassociated itself from any involvement and the leadership denied any knowledge of the move.
| "We know nothing! No-thing! Tell them, Hogan!" |
Party sources said the UNF was divided over this whole issue of alleged support to Karuna and the recent revelations that senior ministers had met him in Colombo was embarrassing for the party that denied knowledge of Maulana accompanying Karuna even as the LTTE were poised to close in on the renegade. |