COLOMBO, March 2: Two former ministers who were sacked by President Mahinda Rajapakse last month are demanding a parliamentary probe into an alleged secret pact between the president and the LTTE, purportedly made just before the November 2005 presidential election.

Addressing the media at the parliamentary complex, former ministers Mangala Samaraweera and Sripathy Suriyarachchi insisted there was an agreement between President Rajapakse and the LTTE.

“When a parliamentary committee is appointed we will release our information from reliable sources on this secret deal," Samaraweera said referring to the last-minute decision by the Tamil Tiger rebels to boycott the 2005 presidential election which several polls had indicated would be won by the main opposition leader, Ranil Wickremesinghe, helped significantly by the north eastern vote as Wickremesinghe was seen as the ‘pro-peace’ candidate.

“All the details available can be brought forward. We want the Parliament Speaker W. J. M. Lokubandara to appoint a select committee to look into the issue. We have already made a request”, Samaraweera said.

"On the election day I was surprised that the LTTE boycotted the election. I called president’s brother Basil and asked what happened in the LTTE held areas. There was no clear answer but several MPs know the facts to prove that there was pact between the government and the LTTE. It is like a jigsaw puzzle but it will be solved if there is a parliamentary inquiry,” Samaraweera said.

Analysts say the allegations have the potential of tarnishing the image of President Mahinda Rajapakse who is seen as an arch enemy of the LTTE and the terrorism the rebels espouse.