Sri Lanka main opposition to stay out of independence day celebrations

Sri Lanka's main opposition United National Party (UNP) said here Monday that they would not take part in the official celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of independence on Feb. 4.

"We will not be taking part in the celebrations", Tissa Attanayake, the UNP general secretary, told reporters.

"It was UNP which gained independence to the country in 1948. What we have seen since then is that all governments other than the UNP governments have undone our achievement of gaining independence. There is no freedom to celebrate," Attanayake said.

He said the country is presently undergoing hardships in all aspects of life, including education, health, economy and the separatist armed conflict in the island's north and east provinces.

Read more,
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-01/28/content_7513161.htm