Posts and Telecommunications Minister Rauff Hakeem in Sri Lankan parliament on Tuesday condoled the death of LTTE’s political head S.P. Thamilchelvan. When government ministers including Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremenayake hailed Sri Lankan security forces for killing him, minister Rauff took an opposite stand in this connection and expressed his sorrow over the killing of the LTTE leader.

Mr. Hakeem, who is also the leader of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) told the parliament defying the possible risk of being branded a traitor he was making such a statement in the House.

“But it does not matter whatever he is called for his statement condoling the death of Thamilchelvan”, he said, winding up the emergency debate in the House.

He termed the killing of Thamilchelvan as a blow to a negotiated settlement to the conflict.

Referring to speeches made in the House by Sinhala and Tamil leaders over the death of Thamilchelvan, Mr. Hakeem said.

“These speeches clearly show us their division that how they view the death of Thamilselvan. This is an indication of the ethnic divisions in the country”, he added.

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