White van issue originated from Sirikotha - Chief Govt Whip

Uditha Kumarasinghe Irangika Range and Sandasen Marasinghe

Chief Government Whip Minister Dinesh Gunawardane yesterday told Parliament "the white van issue" originated from the UNP party Headquarters Sirikotha on the same day night when the shanty problem in Colombo arose.

The Minister said Sirikotha created this situation by giving telephone calls throughout the country.

The Minister was responding to a question raised by UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake.

Karunanayake said the Urban Development Authority (UDA) has expanded it's activities to demolish shanties in the Kolonnawa and Colombo North areas too. The lawyer who appeared for the residents of these slums has been threatened by a group who came by a white van.

Daily Mirror Journalist Yohan Perera who went to cover the demolishing of these houses has been attacked by a certain group, he said.

Minister Gunawardane said there is no any involvement of the UDA in the attack this journalist.

A certain political elements who came with thugs attacked this journalist. These political elements are attempting to put the blame on the Government regarding such incidents. We have identified these elements. Once the journalist was admitted to hospital, I contacted and inquired about the incident from another journalist who was with him.

Therefore, the UDA has no connection with this incident, the Minister added.