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The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam attacked the three-day trade exhibition held at the Jaffna Central College that concluded on Monday as an effort by the Sinhalese businessmen to foray in to Jaffna in search of customers. Both the main organ of the terrorist group, the London based Tamil Guardian and the LTTE's political wing chief S.P. Thamilchelvan criticized the exhibition organized by the UNF government's Rehabilitation Minister Dr. Jayalath Jayawardene. Under the influence of the rebel group the Jaffna Traders Association boycotted the event but an independently estimated crowd of more than 50,000 people flocked to the exhibition that sold all goods very much cheaper than Colombo market prices, observers reported. Though S.P. Thamilchelvan charged that this was a plunder of hard earned money of the Jaffna man, the LTTE on the last day of the event entered the exhibition premises and sold LTTE's propaganda material like CD's and audio cassettes and earned Rupees 70,000 , according to their own claims. The August 7 issue of the LTTE main organ, The Tamil Guardian openly opposing this exhibition on racist ground said, "Mr. Jayalath Jayawardene claimed the trade fair was organized to promote friendship between the people of North and South the contradictions were all about him. Sinhalese businesses were foraying in to Jaffna in search of customers whilst local firms struggled to receive the much needed support they are entitled to." The newspaper editorial did not go in to details as to what the Jaffna traders were entitled to. During an earlier attempt to encourage investments in Jaffna businesses the LTTE described it as an attempt to take away profits earned in Jaffna by the Sinhalese traders. But Dr. Jayalath Jayawardene, who had been promoting the LTTE in the past, said he was only trying to establish a marketplace of Jaffna farmers in the South and a favorable prices in the sale of red onions (shallots), chilies, Palmyra products ,potatoes and other produce . He argued that nearly 50 Jaffna traders were able to obtain dealerships for internationally recognized merchandise at the exhibition. A pro-LTTE spokesman of the Jaffna University , Saminathan Wimal said the exhibition was also an attempt by international investors to have a market in Jaffna. He argued that it did not help Jaffna at all. A faithful LTTE friend , Dr.Jayalath Jayawardene has been known for a long time for arranging medical clinics for the LTTE injured soldiers in the Wanni . It is believed that he helped to draw up the pre-election.agreement of the LTTE and the ruling UNP which finally helped the UNP to come to power with Prabhakaran publicly endorsing Ranil Wickremesinghe at the last parliamentary elections. It is still not known how the relationship has somewhat soured now . (EOM) (02/08/07 go2lanka.com) |