UNP condemns attack on printing press
 

by E. Weerapperuma

The United National Party vehemently condemned the attack at the printing press at Ratmalana where both Sunday Leader and Irudina papers are printed.

UNP Deputy Secretary General Tissa Attanayake, MP told the media that the attack was aimed at causing fear in the minds of the journalists involved in their duty of informing public what is happening in the country and it was a sign of threat to the democratic right to information, guaranteed by the constitution.

Tissa Attanayake further said that they value newspaper criticism and they the newspapers have the right to expose what they think is in the best interest of the country.

Referring to the statement by SLFP General Secretary Maithripala Sirisena rejecting the invitation extended to the SLFP by UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe for the two main parties to get together, Attanayake said the SLFP General Secretary's tone suggests that he is bent on spreading hatred and not unity among all communities.

The UNP does not want to sow the seed of hatred. UNP Leader Wickremesinghe wrote to the President's what he intends doing if he were to be elected President. The President view has been in this regard is very encouraging and both the SLFP and UNP have to work together to bring about peace - carry forward the development work, he pointed out.

"What UNP wants is to create a better understanding among all political parties and get all to work together. This is why we want to put an end to politics of hatred and we trust that once our leader is elected next President he would be able to harness all resources to make this country a better place for all communities to live in.