(Lanka-e-News, October 07, 2008, 9.30 AM) United National Party (UNP) charges that the government and the Ministry of Defense must admit the responsibility of the killing of North Central Provincial Council Opposition Leader Retired Major General Janaka Perera.
At a special press briefing held in Colombo, denying this heinous act, the UNP stated that the government commenced to issue verdicts regarding the killers even before the warmth of the bodies of the victims died down proving that the government would not hold a fair investigation. Therefore, the UNP raised the need of an international investigation, said the UNP General Secretary Thissa Aththanayaka.
The blast took place as the office of the Opposition Leader of the North Central Provincial Council was being declared open at the new bus stand in Anuradhapura on auspicious time of 6.10 AM yesterday (06).
UNP General Secretary Aththanayaka further stated that the government that considered Mr. Janaka Perera as a war hero, began to consider him as a traitor after his joining with the UNP and he was not provided with security due to influence of a senior in the Ministry of Defense.
He said that Mr. Janaka Perera had threats from LTTE, Pillaiyan's TMVP and the government. State intelligence wings made the retired Major General aware of the threats to his life from LTTE although he was not provided with security creating background for the assassination.
Commenting on the government propaganda that the police was not informed of the function held yesterady (06), Mr. Aththanayaka queried the efficiency of the state security if it was not aware of such a major function.
Mr. Aththanayaka questioned how a suicide bomber entered into Anuradhapura city just after an operation to look for terrorists on Saturday and Sunday. Government's unnecessary rapidity in issuing statements raises serious doubts, he said. Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse and several Ministers publicly said that Major General Janaka Perera had no threats from LTTE and did not provide security to him clarifying the government's policy on him, said Mr. Aththanayaka.
At a special press briefing held in Colombo, denying this heinous act, the UNP stated that the government commenced to issue verdicts regarding the killers even before the warmth of the bodies of the victims died down proving that the government would not hold a fair investigation. Therefore, the UNP raised the need of an international investigation, said the UNP General Secretary Thissa Aththanayaka.
The blast took place as the office of the Opposition Leader of the North Central Provincial Council was being declared open at the new bus stand in Anuradhapura on auspicious time of 6.10 AM yesterday (06).
UNP General Secretary Aththanayaka further stated that the government that considered Mr. Janaka Perera as a war hero, began to consider him as a traitor after his joining with the UNP and he was not provided with security due to influence of a senior in the Ministry of Defense.
He said that Mr. Janaka Perera had threats from LTTE, Pillaiyan's TMVP and the government. State intelligence wings made the retired Major General aware of the threats to his life from LTTE although he was not provided with security creating background for the assassination.
Commenting on the government propaganda that the police was not informed of the function held yesterady (06), Mr. Aththanayaka queried the efficiency of the state security if it was not aware of such a major function.
Mr. Aththanayaka questioned how a suicide bomber entered into Anuradhapura city just after an operation to look for terrorists on Saturday and Sunday. Government's unnecessary rapidity in issuing statements raises serious doubts, he said. Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse and several Ministers publicly said that Major General Janaka Perera had no threats from LTTE and did not provide security to him clarifying the government's policy on him, said Mr. Aththanayaka.
