Sept 17, Colombo: Sri Lanka's major Tamil party Tamil National Alliance (TNA) says that five of the party's newly elected councilors of the Eastern Provincial Council (EPC) have fled to Colombo in fear of their lives.

TNA leader R. Sampanthan says unidentified persons have asked the councilors to support the government. He says that they have been promised perks and privileges in return of their support.

TNA won 11 seats in the Eastern Provincial Council and the ruling United People's Freedom Alliance won 14 seats of the 35-member Council.

Addressing a press conference held in Colombo on Saturday, the TNA leader R. Sampanthan said that the party was awaiting the response of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) to form a coalition rule in the EPC.

TNA has agreed to offer the Chief Minister position to the SLMC.

Sampanthan, who is to meet President Mahinda Rajapaksa today says that the TNA will extend support to the government to establish rule if the President requests. He added that the people of the Eastern Province have voted against the ruling coalition.