CHENNAI: The Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front-Padmanabha (EPRLF-P) on Sunday said that Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunge's strong support base would enable her to stage a comeback though the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna had withdrawn support to her Government.

At a press conference here, P. Gnanam, political committee member of the EPRLF (P), said Ms. Kumaratunge enjoyed more support among the people in all the provinces than the former Prime Minister and United National Party leader, Ranil Wickramasinghe. If elections were held now, she would emerge successful, thanks to the difference between her and Mr. Wickramasinghe in handling issues relating to the LTTE's activities and economic policies.

On the Government's proposal for a joint mechanism to share tsunami aid with the LTTE, he said the move would in no way help the militant outfit to give up the armed struggle and choose the path of democracy. He flayed the LTTE for not allowing other Tamil groups to take part in the tsunami relief work in the North and East, which craved for democratic space. Mediapersons in these regions were not allowed to function freely and people there lived in perpetual fear, he said.

He urged the Sri Lankan Government and the LTTE to take immediate steps to halt all killings and strive for a solution to the ethnic crisis through talks, as people wanted to lead a peaceful life in the island.

`It's up to India'

Calling for India's intervention to find an amicable political solution, besides putting an end to the killing-spree, he said: "It is for India to decide what kind of role it can assume."

To a query, he said the EPRLF (P) welcomed the proposed Sethusamudram Ship Canal Project. Mr. Gnanam said the EPRLF (P) would not join hands with any group which believed in violence.

The 15th death anniversary of EPRLF leader K. Padmanabha would be observed as Martyr's Day, he added.

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