Sources said that leaders of the central committee have been thinking to remove Karuna from his post for last several days after a probe on financial irregularities and other allegations brought against him.

“Karuna was found guilty of swindling more than Rs. 80 million of our funds. An official announcement about his removal is likely to be made today”, a TMVP leader said requesting anonymity.

The construction of a multi storeyed building on Lake Road in Batticaloa, to house the headquarters of the organization is going on under the new leadership, party sources said.

Meanwhile, new leader Pillayan on Sunday met representatives of Tamil political parties operating in the east including those from the EPDP, PLOTE and EPRLF and briefed them on the latest developments.

He also assured them that complete freedom to carry put their political activities in the east will be ensured, which was earlier curtailed by Karuna.

Pillayan, a former close ally of Karuna, also met businessmen and civil society leaders in Batticaloa and urged them not to succumb to any extortion related demand by Karuna cadres and also assured that child recruitment will stop and underaged recruits would be released soon.

He told the people to bring the matter to the notice of police if such incident occurs.

Karuna had earlier fled to London when a rift between him and Pillayan deepened and more TMVP cadres began to support Pillayan. In recent months Karuna was seriously cornered in the party, sources said.

TMVP spokesman Azad Maulana had however denied there was any rift within the organization.

Rights groups, and most recently UN special envoy Allan Rock alleged there was clear evidence of Karuna’a involvement is several disappearances and killings in the east.

There was a pressure on the Sri Lankan government from the international community to take action against Karuna group.

Many see the move to appoint Pillayan as the new TMVP head and assurances he is giving as an attempt to divert the negative attention created by allegations relating to abduction, killing and extortions brought against the TMVP during Karuna’s leadership.

The move has been made at a time the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR) Louise Arbour is due to visit Sri Lanka today.

But one pro-Karuna leader said Pillayan himself is also not fair either and he is also involved in the abduction and subsequent killing of seven TRO employees last year.

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