SB Dissanayake, the former national organiser of the main opposition United National Party (UNP) accused the main opposition candidate of betraying the armed forces.

In an interview with Sunday Leader newspaper, Gen (retd.) Sarath Fonseka has reportedly accused the defence secretary of ordering the armed forces to shoot senior LTTE leaders who tried to surrender at the last stages of war.

With white flags

Denying the comments, Gen Fonseka has sent a letter of demand to the newspaper seeking Rs. 500 million as damage.

Addressing the journalists on Friday, SB Dissanayake who recently defected to President Rajapaksa's campaign said nearly 200 LTTE cadres have tried to surrender "with white flags" at the last stages.

But the security forces have retaliated as the LTTE cadres have started firing, he said.

"Many civilians might have been killed" in the carnage, he said, and 17 soldiers also lost their lives.