“ UNP has always shown concern for the lives and welfare of every citizen”

(April 25, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Tissa Attanayake, UNP Gen. Secretary, speaking to the Media at the Media unit today ( 25 Apr) said , the Rajapakse Govt. has again and again confirmed it is only consumed in one pursuit , that is , to gain a cheap political mileage or a deceptive victory at election even if it means sacrificing the country, economy , people and even the security Forces’ lives .

Although the Govt. is trying to cover up the debacles in its war efforts, the latest Muhumalai engagement with the LTTE has brought home the truth to all, of the heavy death toll and casualties among our Forces .With the Eastern polls a few weeks ahead, the Govt. has tried the same gimmick, launching an attack on the LTTE as it did just before the last budget sacrificing the lives of the security personnel in hasty untimely aggression.

The UNP which has always shown concern for the lives and welfare of every citizen of this country hereby conveys its profound condolences to the bereaved families of each and every soldier who sacrificed his life, while also wishing speedy recovery to those who are injured in the Muhumalai engagement.

Referring to the upcoming Eastern Province (EP) polls, he said, Ministers, Susil Prema Jayantha and Maithripala Sirisena have alleged that the UNP has entered into a secret pact with the LTTE for the elections. This is the joke of the century! , he said. Are we to remind the Rajapakse Govt. of the secret deal involving many millions of rupees payment to the LTTE to obstruct the voters in the North from voting at the last Presidential elections, and acknowledged as the greatest betrayal by the Govt.? Late Sripathy Suriarachy filed charges against the Govt. with proof; but, the Govt. has still not taken it up postponing the Select Committee proceedings under one pretext or another, he asserted.

Let the Govt. be reminded that it is the UNP who had suffered most at the hands of the LTTE –Ministers, Gamini Dissanayake, Lalith Athulathmudali and many others were victims of the LTTE brutal attacks . On the contrary, Rajapakse and his Govt. are now in power because of the LTTE after betraying the country to them on the illicit deal.

The Govt. is jittery that it will face a humiliating defeat at the EP polls because; all surveys conducted by independent Agencies have indicated this if a fair and free election is held. Therefore, the Govt. is resorting to every crooked trick in the book to wrest victory even against the will of the voters: allowing the pro Govt. Pillayan group to carry arms, inflict abductions, intimidations and other election law related crimes...

He distributed a long list of election related crimes committed in the recent past ,and stated that the Govt is allowing them to escalate by taking no action against its own parties and supporters.. The Govt. is so desperate that it is openly violating election laws in the province: misusing State vehicles, State properties as election Offices of their candidates, conducting illegal rallies ….. He lamented.

The UNP has made complaints about them duly to the Police and the Elections Commissioner who has also pointed out the illegality of such actions, he exhorted.

The UNP only makes one request to the Govt. – to hold a Fair and Free election so that the Voters could express their will democratically without terrorising ;to plunder their votes and birthrights.
- Sri Lanka Guardian