UNP to boycott official Independence Day celebrations

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 30 January 2008, 08:03 GMT]
The main opposition United National Party (UNP) has decided to boycott the 60th Independence Day official celebrations to be held on February 4 by the government led by President Mahinda Rajapakse. Instead the UNP high commend as appealed to people to attend prayers' meeting in places of worships organized throughout the country. UNP has organized its main prayer meeting at Dalada Maligawaa in Kandy, capital of the central province with a vow to regain lost fundamental and human rights under the present regime, UNP general secretary Tissa Attanayake said.

Mr.Tissa Attanayake said at a press briefing that his party has rejected the invitation extended by the government to attend the main official Independence Day celebrations in Colombo.

No useful purpose would be served by attending the official Independence Day celebrations while fundamental, human and media freedom are being threatened under the government led by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, he said.

"Today, the first and foremost thing is to liberate the people of the country from the anarchy now being unleashed in the island."