Sri Lankan opposition presidential candidate can not be trusted: Tamil candidate

The only Tamil minority candidate in Sri Lanka's presidential election later this month claims the main opposition candidate can not be trusted to keep his pledge to the Tamil minority.

The island's state radio Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation quoted K. Shivajilingam, the independent Tamil candidate as saying that General Sarath Fonseka can not be trusted to implement his assurances if elected president.

Tamil National Alliance (TNA), the main Tamil party pledged support to Fonseka against incumbent President Mahinda Rajapakse following pledges from Fonseka to address Tamil grievances.

They would urge the Tamil minority to vote Fonseka, officials from the TNA said.

Shivajilingam, a TNA legislator, is standing on his own as an alternative choice.

The TNA hierarchy said the party had not approved Shivajilingam's candidature.

"We will be watching his conduct," TNA leader R. Sampanthan said.

Shivajilingam, a Tamil nationalist, was seen as a supporter of the defeated Tamil Tiger rebels.