UNP calls for measures to halt LTTE violence

Chamikara Weerasinghe

COLOMBO: The United National Party yesterday stressed the need for measures to compel the LTTE to put a halt to its terrorist acts even with help from the international community and backing from all other forces.

Party Deputy Secretary General Tissa Attanayake told a press conference at the UNP party office yesterday that they (the UNP) would not approve violence in whatever form.

He said: "We vehemently condemn the LTTE for pursuing a murderous culture. If the LTTE is going to continue this culture, the UNP will not hesitate to condemn them further."

He said that UNP had been urging the government to restore civil life and ensure national security.

Attanayake said the UNP would give its unconditional support to the government to arrive at a political settlement to the national question. "If the government was going to take a political decision to address the issue, the UNP will extend its unconditional support to the government, " he said.

He said security conditions have deteriorated in the city of Colombo, the North and East and other provinces, over the last few days.

Referring to the LTTE attempt carried out on the life of Pakistani High Commissioner, Attanayake said: " It goes to signify the deteriorating security situation in the country."

He said the Deputy Secretary General of Peace Secretariat Loganathan had been killed on Saturday. There has been many reports of killing from all corners of the country, he said.

Attanayaka said that one could not sit and do nothing when one sees civil life being endangered .

He said, " the government has a responsibility to restore civil life and is duty bound to ensure that civil life is not affected."

He also said that there was a huge propaganda campaign against the government, charging it with attacking a school with bombs in the Northern province.

Attanayake said: " It's important for the government to carry out an investigation into this incident and disclose the truth to the world." Otherwise the government will have to suffer the consequences of its image being tarnished by this incident internationally, he said.

He also warned the government to be aware of the increasing number of refugees in the country .

"The number of refugees have increased to 40,000 . Some of them have started going to India.

"This can bring even more adverse results than the fighting in the North and East," he said.

He said the government will have to take substantial measures to address the current issues and it cannot evade its problem by blaming the Ceasefire Agreement and the Opposition Leader.