Govt. gives into Pilleyan and withdraws STF from East! – UNP General Secretary

The UNP has charged that the government is withdrawing the Special Task Force (STF) from the East "on the insistence of the Pillayan group” stating that it was a “calculated attempt to prepare the ground for the rigging of the upcoming provincial council election.”

UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake said Pilleyan group is demanding the withdrawal of the STF from areas such as Potuvil and Sangamankanda so “they will have a free run at the upcoming election.”

According to police sources Defense Ministry has decided to withdraw the STF from more than ten camps in the East and Mannar.

According to these sources the Army would take over those camps in the East and Vavuniya areas. According to police sources the STF withdrawn from some camps in the Ampara and Akkaraipattu area will be deployed in LTTE threatened villages in Welioya, including Kebithigollewa say the police.