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SLFP Media Spokesman and Urban Development, Public Utilities, Housing and Sports Minister Mangala Samaraweera in a press release challenged UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe to come forward personally for an open debate with him on any TV channel of Mr. Wickremesinghe's choice on the theme of "Law and the Under-world".

This challenge is a sequel to Mr. Wickremesinghe's recent statement reported in the Lankadeepa Newspaper of November 08th wherein Mr. Wickremesinghe addressing a Colombo North election meeting is said to have stated that his prime aim was to make Colombo a disciplined, law abiding and peaceful town which is now full of crime, looting and corruption due to politicisation of the police. He is also said to have stated that he will free the Police from all manner of political interference, irrespective of whatever political party one belongs to.

Answering the issue, Minister Samaraweera stated that any person knowing and remembering Mr. Wickremesinghe's leadership in protecting and fostering the underworld led by renowned criminals like Gonawela Sunil and Soththi Upali during the 17 year UNP rule of terror cannot help but laugh when Mr. Wickremesinghe gives assurances of this nature.

The press release goes on to say that it was Mr. Wickremesinghe of Batalanda fame who manipulated the amnesty to Gonawela Sunil who was serving a term of imprisonment for raping the 14 year old daughter of a doctor and was later made a Justice of the Peace for the whole island only to make use of Sunil's thuggery to perpetrate untold misery on political opponents in the torture camps of Batalanda.

Minister Samaraweera in the press release further says that today Mr. Wickremesinghe being fully aware of his impending defeat is running amok with his battalion of thugs and army deserters, and added that the Government is now going ahead with a programme to round up these army deserters.

The Minister in conclusion urges Mr. Wickremesinghe not to resort to his usual runaway tactic or the tactic of nominating an obscene UNP supporter unworthy of being even in the executive committee and face this challenge personally by himself before the eyes of the public, a request for which a favourable reply is expected.

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