In a rare media appearance, Sri Lanka's National Intelligence Chief Kapila Hendawitharana on Sunday condemned what he termed a false campaign fuelled by vested interests against the government over its alleged misuse of LTTE assets.
For several days now influential leaders of the opposition have been talking about supposed misuse of seized LTTE assets by the campaign managers of the President Mahinda Rajapaksa who is seeking a re-election in the January 26 polls.
Major-General Hendawitharana complained that reckless charges were not only demoralising to those involved in intelligence work but also affected the ongoing investigations which ultimately benefited the country.
The intelligence chief said there were valuable foreign intelligence inputs regarding the assets of the LTTE and maintained that the recent seizure of an LTTE vessel was the result of the long-term efforts of committed intelligence officers.
The intelligence angle is a new dimension to the political fight ahead of the January 26 election. The result of the contest, which is mainly a fight between Mr. Rajapaksa and the former Army Chief, General (retdired) Sarath Fonseka, is keenly awaited within and outside the island nation.
Corruption, poor governance, nepotism and improper handling of the issues triggered by Eelam War IV are the pet themes of the retired General. Mr. Rajapaksa, on his part, has focused on issues of development. However, his party managers have been equally robust in raising or countering charges from the opposition camp.
