Military rejects Udayan attack claim

The Military vehemently rejected allegations that it was responsible for the attack on the Udayan press saying this was yet another attempt at discrediting the government and the military and a ploy by the TNA and pro-LTTE forces to use the adverse publicity “to support their claims that international interference was essential for local reconciliation”.

Issuing a media release, Military spokesman Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya said the Sri Lankan Military Forces are duty bound to protect constitutional rights.

“Freedom of expression is one of the guaranteed rights.

The Military has no need to engage in acts against freedom of expression. There are a large number of different media institutions in Sri Lanka and anyone following what is published/broadcast/telecast would know that criticism on government as well as Military are very common,” the release said.

It added: “Except a handful of media institutions, the vast majority are privately owned. In the recent past, it is only Udayan which is owned by a Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian (who is actively campaigning against the government and the Military in the North and East) that allegedly faced numerous forms of harassment.

“This is an interesting phenomenon. There are several other publications in Jaffna and elsewhere (published in all three languages) that level harsh criticism on the government as well as the Military but there are no allegations of harassment. Why is it only Udayan? According to preliminary investigations carried out by the authorities, the damage caused by the latest attack is not excessive. Only three paper rolls are partially burnt along with few papers, no damage to any printing machines, and power supply has been interrupted due to heat.

“When power is restored the paper can resume its operations, perhaps today itself.

As things appear, it is obvious that the publicity gained by the paper through this alleged attack on its printing press is enormous.

The local as well as international political mileage that the TNA, as well as other international pro-LTTE organisations propagating the ideology of establishing a separate state in Sri Lanka, gain by way of discrediting the government and Military is much greater than the physical damage.

“This publicity will surely be used by them to support their widespread claims that international interference is essential for local reconciliation. We refute speculations of any Military involvement on attack on Udayan in Jaffna.”