8.10.2008
Colombo News Desk

The motion to extend the state of emergency by one month has been passed in parliament by a majority of 84 votes. 98 votes were cast in favour of the motion while 14 votes rejected it.

Parliamentarian of the National Freedom Front voted in favour of the motion together with the government. Only the Tamil National Alliance voted against it. Parliamentarians of the UNP, JVP and the SLMC were absent in the House at the time of the voting. JVP parliamentarians were also absent at the meeting held today for parliamentarians.

During the emergency regulation Prime Minister Rathnasiri Wickremanayake said the security forces have accelerated military operations against terrorists to liberate the north.

The LTTE is losing their control in Kilinochchi. The Prime Minister stated that the people in the north are yearning to live freely. It is the responsibility of the government to fulfil this aspiration of them. Every Sri Lankan has the responsibility to encourage and support the security personnel who are engaged in humanitarian operations in the north.

Prime Minister Wickremanayake noted with regret that certain political parties are acting against the cause of the security forces. The LTTE has resorted to violent activities realizing their imminent defeat. Two hundred security personnel were killed and nearly one thousand injured due to various activities of the terrorists last month.

13 civilians also died and 29 were injured. Speaking further the Prime Minister said slain former major general Janaka Perera’s service to the nation as a war hero will be remembered for ever. The police are conducting extensive investigations into the killing.

Meanwhile, opposition leader Ranil Wickremasinghe making a special statement in parliament on Tuesday said investigations into the assassination of Janaka Perera should be supported by international experts.
Minister Dalas Alahapperuma says it is the time for everybody to stand against terrorism without trading charges against each other.

The SLFP pointed finger at the late President Ranasinghe Premadasa for the assassination of former Minister Lalith Athulathmudali.

There were rumours among UNPers that Mr. Ranil Wickremasinghe who left the stage of the Thotalanga UNP meeting few minutes away from the blast was responsible for the death of former Minister Gamini Dissanayake. A similar allegation was made against the government by certain people after the assassination of Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle.

Minister Alahapperuma point out that it is the terrorists who are taking the advantage of this type of baseless allegations which are made due to party politics. The Minister therefore, invited everybody to be united against terrorism.

In reply to a question raised during the parliamentary debate held in this connection Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa stated that the state media gave unbiased reports of the assassination of Major General Janaka Perera. Minister T.B. Ekanayake observed that the UNP is incapable of commenting without bias on the assassination.