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A group including several UNP parliamentarians, conducting an awareness campaign in Deniyaya, came under attack on Sunday. The group of media personnel covering the event also came under attack.
The group included Tissa Attanayake, General Secretary of the United National Party, parliamentarians Ravi Karunanayake, Sagala Ratnayake and UNP Southern Provincial Council candidate Buddhika Pathirana who had been taking part on a door-to-door awareness campaign.
Attanayake said an unidentified group obstructed them when they were touring Ensalwatta and Bevenliwattta areas.
“If a road is being constructed under the Maga Neguma programme, the public have a right to know its progress. If they are not allowing the people to see it or the mansion that is being built there, then there is a big secret,” he said at a media briefing yesterday.
About 40 UNP supporters engaged in political activities had been injured and several vehicles were damaged, said Attanayake.
“Even some media personnel were also harassed,” Tissa claimed.
Sagala Ratnayake UNP MP said the road was blocked with a vehicle which was marked Nathagala Estate. “Thusitha Ranawaka came out and told us to leave as it was a private road. Minister Dilan Perera came with a crowd and and began instigating them. There was chaos,” said Ratnayake.
However, Dilan Perera dismissed the charge saying that it was he and his supporters who had been obstructed from proceeding to the house due to UNP supporters and vehicles blocking the road.
“The President was coming to Matara that morning and we were engaged in propaganda activities. When we arrived at this house for tea, we found the whole road blocked with UNP supporters and their vehicles. There were about 20 vehicles. It was, in fact, my security personnel who helped get those vehicles out of the area.
“Mr. Attanayake cannot obstruct my right to go to a house, As for media personnel, I did not see a single media person,” Dilan Perera said.
A group including several UNP parliamentarians, conducting an awareness campaign in Deniyaya, came under attack on Sunday. The group of media personnel covering the event also came under attack.
The group included Tissa Attanayake, General Secretary of the United National Party, parliamentarians Ravi Karunanayake, Sagala Ratnayake and UNP Southern Provincial Council candidate Buddhika Pathirana who had been taking part on a door-to-door awareness campaign.
Attanayake said an unidentified group obstructed them when they were touring Ensalwatta and Bevenliwattta areas.
“If a road is being constructed under the Maga Neguma programme, the public have a right to know its progress. If they are not allowing the people to see it or the mansion that is being built there, then there is a big secret,” he said at a media briefing yesterday.
About 40 UNP supporters engaged in political activities had been injured and several vehicles were damaged, said Attanayake.
“Even some media personnel were also harassed,” Tissa claimed.
Sagala Ratnayake UNP MP said the road was blocked with a vehicle which was marked Nathagala Estate. “Thusitha Ranawaka came out and told us to leave as it was a private road. Minister Dilan Perera came with a crowd and and began instigating them. There was chaos,” said Ratnayake.
However, Dilan Perera dismissed the charge saying that it was he and his supporters who had been obstructed from proceeding to the house due to UNP supporters and vehicles blocking the road.
“The President was coming to Matara that morning and we were engaged in propaganda activities. When we arrived at this house for tea, we found the whole road blocked with UNP supporters and their vehicles. There were about 20 vehicles. It was, in fact, my security personnel who helped get those vehicles out of the area.
“Mr. Attanayake cannot obstruct my right to go to a house, As for media personnel, I did not see a single media person,” Dilan Perera said.
