UNP alleges Indian plot

11 June 2010 09:15 am

United National Party (UNP) MP Ravi Karunanayake today alleged that at a time when there was peace in Sri Lanka, its neighbor India was known to have attempted to create problems for this country by supplying weapons to certain elements.

Mr. Karunanayake was responding to media reports that India was planning to hold talks with the Sri Lanka’s minority political parties on the national question.

“Why is India talking to minority parties? The UNP also represent the minorities. Tamils and Muslims also voted for me and were instrumental in electing me to parliament. Must I be a Muslim to represent Muslims,” he asked while speaking on the need to license all weapons in Sri Lanka.

During the private member’s motion moved by him Mr. Karunanayake proposed that if anyone was found possessing an unlicensed weapon, he or she should be charged under the breach of criminal law with a mandatory jail sentence of 20 years.

He hailed Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa who vowed to take action against those who had failed to surrender illegal firearms in their possession.

“This is a timely move. The country has been rescued from terrorism and we need to appreciate the government’s role in ridding Sri Lanka of illegal weapons,” Mr. Karunanayake said adding that it was the politicians who were responsible for the proliferation of firearms in the country. he said.