Rajapaksa hits out at opposition for taking pro-Tamil stand

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has hit out at the opposition for "working" with the pro-LTTE Tamil diaspora in a bid to oust him.
"They (opposition) are working with foreign forces to oust me. They have gone and met them in Europe. They have promised action to fulfil pro-LTTE diaspora demands," he said while addressing health sector workers here.
Reacting against the European Union court's decision to delist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam (LTTE) from their terrorist list last week, he said, "European Union has lifted the ban on the LTTE. It happened within two weeks of certain opposition leaders having talks with the pro-LTTE diaspora".

"On one hand they lift the ban on the LTTE while threatening to stop our fish exports. The notice had come during the same week," President said, citing EU's warning to ban fish exports from Sri Lanka.
European Union has banned fishery imports from Sri Lanka, the second biggest exporter to the bloc, due to Sri Lanka's non-compliance with international fishing regulations.
Rajapaksa's move to link local politics with EU decisions comes at a time when he is contemplating a snap presidential election to seek a third term in the office.