Leader of the Eelam Peoples’ Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF) and former Chief Minister of North-Eastern Province  A. Varadaraja Perumal said that army presence in northern area of Sri Lanka has created an uneasiness within the Tamil people.

Perumal said that the army presence has created a fear within the community and he has urged the Sri Lankan government to control the army presence in the northern area.

Speaking to India media Perumal said that reducing the presence of the army would help the economy. Expenditure on security, accounting for one-third of the spending, was unnecessary, and the money could instead be used for education, health and roads.

“When the Indo-Lanka accord was signed, we were made to accept it with a guarantee by the Indian government that the 13th Amendment will be implemented in totality. The Chief Ministers elected by the people in the Northern and Eastern Provinces have no powers now,” he said.

Speaking on the fisherman issue, Perumal said that the Maritime Boundary Agreement of 1974, which allows fishermen from both sides to fish in the Palk Bay without worrying about the border, was still valid.