Off the wire
• Over 2,000 gov't regulators punished for environmental malpractice  • Kashmir opposition parties urge Modi to initiate dialogue, ban pellet guns  • Taiwan jobless rate rises to 4.02 pct in July  • Cambodian PM holds forum with environmental groups  • S. Korea name football squad for World Cup qualifiers in September  • Deputy Tianjin mayor under investigation  • (G20 Summit) Spotlight: Emerging economies hope to get economic boost from G20 summit  • China continues anti-subsidy duties on U.S. chicken  • Singapore's PM Lee Hsien Loong will take medical leave until Aug. 29  • Taliban commander among 4 killed in eastern Afghan province  
You are here: 　 Home

Sri Lanka's Northern Province chief minister to discuss concerns on ex-Tamil rebels with PM

Xinhua, August 22, 2016 Adjust font size:

Chief Minister of Sri Lanka's Tamil minority dominated Northern Province C.V. Wigneswaran said on Monday that he will meet the country's prime minister to discuss concerns on former Tamil Tiger rebels.

Wigneswaran said he will meet Prime Minister Ranul Wickremeinghe in Colombo to discuss allegations on former rebels being injected with poison.

He said he will discuss the allegation that former Tamil Tiger rebels who were released after being rehabilitated, had been injected with a poisonous drug.

The allegation had made headlines in the local media, particularly in the Northern Province and Tamil politicians had demanded an investigation.

Wigneswaran said he will also discuss concerns over the failure to release Tamil political prisoners still in detention.

The government has said it is prepared to investigate the allegations that former Tamil Tiger rebels were injected with poison if the details of such former rebels is submitted to relevant authorities.

Minister of National Dialogue Mano Ganeshan said there is no need for Wigneswaran to take the issue to the international community as it can be investigated locally.

Wigneswaran is reported to have sought U.S. assistance to help probe the issue but Washington had turned down the request.

The Northern Province chief minister said he has advised doctors in the North to look into the issue and submit a report.

Sri Lanka defeated the Tamil rebels in May 2009 after 30 years of war and most rebels who were captured were rehabilitated and released. Endit