UNP says arrest of parliamentarians a witch hunt

• Claims 25,000 State workers politically victimised
• Insists State workers were protesting peacefully
• Alleges Police are also being politicised 

The United National Party (UNP) yesterday charged that during its first month in office, the present Government has politically victimised nearly 25,000 State employees who joined the State sector during the three months.   

UNP MP Harshana Rajakaruna made the allegation at a press conference held at the party headquarters yesterday.  

UNP MP Harshana Rajakaruna

“It is very disheartening to witness the political victimisation of this Government over the past month, not only oppression MP’s, as you are aware nearly 25,000 State sector employees who joined the State sector during the last three months,” he said.  

Rajakaruna claimed that the State employees are being pressured to the extent that they are not reporting to work, which is putting at risk their livelihood. “Some have begun to stage small peaceful demonstrations against the Government’s treatment of them last week,” he added.

He charged that the political victimisation had no boundaries, pointing out that the arrest of UNP MP Ranjan Ramanayake last weekend was the latest of the Government campaign of victimisation. 

“The arrest of MP Ramanayake was like a drama, first they said he was arrested on having a firearm with a un-renewed licence, later Government PM speak of content and recordings which were in CD’s at the Minister’s residence,” he charged inquiring how Government ministers had access to evidence from an ongoing case. 

“I must clearly State that the Police does not function in this manner, this was a clear effort of political victimisation by the Government,” he argued. 

Rajakaruna stressed that this was a clear effort by the Government to intimidate and pressure those who are their political opponents. He questioned about the lack of drive to investigate the Easter Sunday bombings which was a promise made during the Presidential Election. Rajakaruna alleged that the Government was more interested in punishing their political opponents rather than finding out those who were behind the Easter Sunday attack.