They had gone there after people of the area informed them that a place in Kilinochchi town was still under Army control, TNA MP M.A. Sumanthiran has told BBC Sandeshaya.

Officers there had opened the gates and allowed them entry, according to him.

People of the area told Sampanthan to ask the government to allow them to resettle in their homes at the location.

MP Udaya Gammanpila and the opposition demand an investigation, saying the TNA group had entered the location without permission.

Army occupying forcibly

Rejecting the charge, Sumanthiran said an Army camp does not exist at the location, which is public property forcibly occupied by the Army, which ostensibly is illegal.

Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe says he disapproves of the group of nearly 50, including Sampanthan, Sumanthiran, MP Sridharan and civilians entering the Paravipachchan camp around 3.00 pm on April 16.

A people’s representative can enter a military camp with proper permission only, and on that particular occasion, the Army had not created a scene and informed the Security Council, Samarasinghe has told the media.

Military spokesman Brig. Jayanath Jayaweera said the Army had not complained to police about the incident.

Certain media reported an investigation was at a standstill as the Army officers in the incident were reluctant to cooperate.