"Don’t act like the LTTE"

(January 30, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Speaking to the Media at the UNP media unit today (30 Jan), UNP M.P. and Secretary for human rights expressed extreme sorrow over the dire plight of the near four lakhs civilians in the Wanni . Although the Govt. is trying hard to conceal the true miserable conditions , the factual situation is seeping through the local and International media, he stated. The wrong picture painted by the Govt. is further corroborated by the fact that it is not allowing even the people’s representatives , the Parliamentary members of the Opposition to visit these areas .

On several occasions Dr. Jayawardena’s request to visit the Wanni was disallowed by the Govt. citing security considerations . As a member of Parliament, he along with some others sought to visit the area to get a first hand view of the civilians’ plight and help them in relief programs, Dr. Jayawardena pointed out. Even his request to visit Mannar and other areas where refugees have spilt over , the Govt. disallowed. This only bears testimony to Govt.’s cruel attitude to the displaced countless civilians.

The Govt. should not think only of its ulterior political motives ; at least in this period of time when the civilians are denied their basic facilities ,when they have no shelter , no food , no medicine, no proper sanitation facilities and not even safety, the Govt. must help. On top of this, Hospitals in Mulaitivu and Vavuniya are non existent, and the District secretariats are closed meaning that there is no civil administration ; it is only from Vavuniya Hospital medical facilities are provided to the sick, injured and maimed . There are also over 3000 pregnant women and thousands of infants who are all trapped in the crossfire between the warring factions. Can the Govt..also act like terrorists not caring for these innocent civilians ?he asked.

Unlike this Govt. which only thinks of its selfish political agenda and politicization of the war , the UNP has always ,in every program and every activity stood by the people of all races and treated them as citizens of one country , he emphasized. - Sri Lanka Guardian