July 01, 2010: UNP deputy leader said today that the party was astounded by the irresponsible and deplorable call by minister Wimal Weerawansa calling on the Sri Lankan public to take up violence and aggression against the UN office and its staff in Colombo.

The UNP deputy leader, parliamentarian Karu Jayasuriya, issuing a statement said that those kinds of statements would have serious repercussions for the people of Sri Lanka.

“It is well known that this is a strategy adopted by the government, which gets its various mouthpieces to get its messages across to the world while claiming it to be an unofficial or personal remark.

“Minister Weerawansa has failed to stipulate how a responsible government should react to such a situation if it were to arise,” the release said.

The release added that a public statement made by a high ranking government minister could be taken seriously by the UN in which Sri Lanka continues to hold membership.

Karu Jayasuriya has urged the government to take all necessary steps to ensure that UN offices in Colombo are provided with adequate protection to ensure its safety from violence perpetrated by one of its very own ministers.

The statement concludes by reiterating that the UNP would oppose any attempts to interfere in the internal affairs of Sri Lanka.