JVPers arrested with equipment meant for disabled soldiers

by Saman Indrajith and Norman Palihawadane

The Welikada Police yesterday recovered a massive stock of crutches, wheel chairs and equipment meant for war heroes allegedly stolen by the JVP and arrested two party activists.

The equipment was worth over two million rupees and had been sent by Lankan expatriates in United Arab Emirates to the Manel Mal Movement. Stored initially at the MMM head office , they had been taken away by a JVP member in Rajagiriya.

Following Wimal Weerawansa’s breakaway, the PNM severed connections with the JVP and the MMM requested the JVP to return the wheel chairs and crutches. Since the requests had been turned down, the MMM’s Chief Executive Officer Anura Atapattu complained to the Welikada Police last week.

OIC of the Welikada Police CI Neville Silva said the stock of wheel chairs and crutches had been recovered from a house in Obeysekerapura in Rajagiriya.

The police had also arrested two persons for illegal possession of items belonging to the MMM, and investigations were on, he told The Island.

The suspects were due to be produced before Magistrate yesterday, police said.

JVP Propaganda Secretary MP Vijitha Herath said the PNM, MMM and JVP were the same. Purchase of the stock of wheelchairs and crutches had been funded by the JVP members in the United Arab Emirates while he was the International Affairs Secretary of the Party. "These items were bought and stored at a place belonging to JVP members. The owner of the place later wanted them removed for want of space and we shifted them to another location. But, there was no stealing. They had been sent by our members thus they belong to the party," he said.