Heated argument ensued in parliament Tuesday during the debate on extending the state of emergency for another month between the opposition and ruling party parliamentarians over the speech by the Prime Minister D.M.Jayaretna that the State of Emergency was needed to nab sleeping LTTE senior cadres in Colombo and that Sri Lankan intelligence personnel are working around the clock day and night to arrest these LTTE cadres.
Joseph Michael Perera of the main opposition United National Party (UNP) queried how foreign tourists could come to Colombo if the government openly claims that there are several sleeping LTTE cadres still hiding in the capital. He continued by arguing how the government could claim that the war was over if there are senior Tiger cadres in Colombo.
The government has been citing reasons for the extension of the State of Emergency to suit their political needs, he alleged.
The Prime Minister in his speech further said that state intelligence services had reported that some LTTE senior cadres staying in storied buildings in Colombo and have been moving with the civilians without to avoid identification. Sri Lankan intelligence services had recovered weapons from persons alleged to have connections with them, Mr. Jayaretna said.
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