Muhamalai debacle due to targeting Eastern Provincial Council election -Tissa

United National Party (UNP) General Secretary and Kandy district MP Thissa Aththanayaka said at a press conference today (25) that the Muhamalai debacle was caused by intensifying war targeting political advantage at the Eastern Provincial Council election. He further expressed the condolence of the UNP to the family members of the deceased soldiers.

'The government always manipulates the war for its political agenda. They increase the cost of living and make the life a hell to people covering to war. UNP has no objection to suppression of terrorism. But the government manipulates war for political gains at risk of the lives of the personnel of the state security forces and the public. UNP is against this gambling.'

UNP said that it did not want to go into a debate with the government by producing the available statistics of damage to the security forces in Muhamalai battle. 'The damage is massive even according to the statistics issued by the government. This debacle was caused by the war strategies focused on the political advantages. Similar debacle took place in Muhamali prior to the budget proposal too.'