Opposition extends support to Govt on Tamil issue in Lanka

Sri Lanka's main opposition UNP threw its weight behind the Rajapakse government on the Tamil issue, saying "no one else had the right to interfere in the internal affairs of the country."

Sri Lanka's main opposition United National Party (UNP) on Saturday threw its weight behind the Rajapakse government on the Tamil issue, saying "no one else had the right to interfere in the internal affairs of the country."

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"As the main opposition party we are extending our unconditional support to the Government in its endeavour to eliminate terrorism," said the Chairman of the UNP Rukman Senanayake, in an apparent reference to calls for cease-fire from India.

At the same time, Senanayake told the Sri Lankan Broadcasting Corporation that it was the due responsibility of the Government to ensure the safety of all citizens irrespective of ethnicity or race.

Senanayake said, "no one else has the right to interfere in the internal issues of Sri Lanka," the SLBC said.

The UNP leader said that it was the duty of the government to exercise military options to combat any form of terrorism.

Labelling the the LTTE as a separatist and a deadly extremist group unleashing terrorism to achieve their goals, Senanayake said, "we should make the international community aware that this terrorist outfit is not fighting for the rights of Tamil people."