The national list candidate of DNA Anura Dissanayake challenges the government to produce, if they can, the constitution they say they have compiled by now. Mr. Dissanayake made this challenge at a press conference held in Colombo . Speaking further Mr. Dissanayake said the government has no programme to present to the people for the general election ; all they do is to sling mud at the General and ask for 2/3rd majority he pointed out. He said, "We challenge the government to present to the people the constitution they say they would bring and has already compiled. It should be presented to the people before the election. The government is preparing to bring an oppressive, undemocratic constitution."

Continuing Mr. Dissanayake said, "The military spokesman says Gen. Sarath Fosneka would be brought before the military tribunal on five charges. This has been published in several national newspapers in Sri Lanka as the lead. However, none of these newspapers had mentioned what those charges were. We challenge the government to present the charges against Gen. Fonseka. We know that investigations are being done only on two main topics. One is the arms deal while he was the Army Commander. The other is whether he had any connections with Parliamentarians of the opposition. Other than these there has not been any questioning or investigations on any other matter.

According to Military Act Gen. Sarath Fonseka cannot be brought before a military tribunal. When he retired he was a four star General. He should get a promotion after retiring. He is the most senior officer in SL Army. When an Army officer is brought before a military tribunal the judges should be appointed from officers senior to him. As such, no judges could be appointed with regard to Gen. Sarath Fonseka. Taking a Commander of the Army before a military tribunal is itself an issue. If he has committed any crime the President, with one stroke of the pen, could cancel his position. No one could go to court against it. Our lawyers are studying the case. We have decided to take legal action regarding this matter.

Gen. Sarath Fonseka has entered the general election with a special programme. All what the government does is ask for a 2/3rd majority. They have no programme regarding issue of the country, cost of food stuff, buying paddy from farmers etc. All what they do is slinging mud at Gen. Fonseka and ask for a 2/3rd majority. We challenge them to present the new constitution they say they would adopt for the country. This should be presented before the election. What the government is trying adopting is an oppressive and undemocratic constitution.

We are having discussions regarding an interim government of three years with the leadership of Gen. Sarath Fonseka. The programme for such a government has been compiled with the participation of intellectuals and scholars. We are discussing this with party leaders. We would make a summary of it and will make Gen. Fonseka aware of its contents through Ms. Anoma Fonseka. For, he has not been allowed to receive any letter or document. We would present it to the country next week."

Ms. Anoma Fonseka speaking at the press conference said, "My husband Sarath spoke to our daughters through the mobile phone I take with me. When this facility was stopped he went on a hunger strike. This facility was denied to him on a directive from the Ministry of Defense. The whole country knew from this incident that the Defense Ministry had authority over the Judiciary. However, he went on a hunger strike and succeeded in his task.

I'm not allowed to take anything into his cell. I'm not allowed to take in even my handbag. Even the e-mail messages sent by my daughters are read by Army officers before they are given to him. He is allowed only to read government news papers. We have already discussed about the inconvenience of the place he is being kept. More than a month has passed since he was arrested illegally without any charges.

We are being humiliated by the state media. A newspaper had reported that I was abused and chased away as the visiting time had changed. The officers who are there know what is actually taking place there. However, they are not allowed to talk. Let them sling mud at us. That mud doesn't stick on us. It is those who have their hands smeared with mud who try to sling mud at us. We ask them to wash mud from their hands and become untainted characters.

The Army spokesman had said allowing General to speak to his daughters is not a right but a privilege. However, it was a right given by the Judiciary. How can speaking to ones children become a privilege? Even before he is brought before the court they talk about his punishments. How can it be? What right do they have to talk about punishment before any judgment? We call upon the masses to act intelligently regarding sordid propaganda carried out using forceful state media. As a wife and a mother I ask women in this country to consider what would be the state of your husband and children if this is the treatment for the world's best Army Commander.

The Leader of the DNA group of candidates for Kalutara District Arjuna Ranatunga addressing the press conference said, "The President addressing women at Hambantota at the 'Women's day' celebrations said the biggest present given to women is the termination of the war. However, he had forgotten that the military leader who brought about this victory of ending the war was being arbitrarily detained in a dark cell by his government. Is it justifiable to make such a speech?

The opposition cannot get their paid advertisement published over ITN channel. It is under such an environment that we have to carry out our campaign. I would like to show you several pictures. This is a photograph of cutouts of government candidates erected opposite Kalutara police station. There are cutouts at the post office. I tried to speak thrice to the IGP to complain regarding this. He doesn't come to answer the telephone. However, he tells over the TV that he is in his office 24 hours of the day.  The President who says he would stop corruption has not rejected any fraudsters from the nomination papers. All fraudsters have been given nomination by the President. The people should decide that this is an encouragement for corruption.

The DNA candidate for Colombo District Jayanthe Katagoda said, "The uniqueness of this alliance is that the leader is a person who has been imprisoned. He is the Leader of Colombo District as well. I'm happy that I, as a member of the UNP and one of its organizers, am able to join such an alliance. The election will be held exactly two months after the General was imprisoned. It is a special occasion for people who cherish democracy.

There are many UNPrs in the nomination paper of the DNA in Gampaha District. There are people from other political parties as well. It is the same with Kalutara District and several other districts. This is the most incorrupt and broadest alliance that has been built in recent times. I'm happy to be a part of it.

Answering a question posed by a journalist regarding the committee appointed by the Secretary General of the UNO Mr. Anura Dissanayake said, "The government, which shouts against the West and pickets opposite the UN office in Sri Lanka, has signed several pacts with the UNO regarding strengthening democracy and human rights in the country. The government has violated these pacts. Democracy is being denied, journalists are being abducted and political leaders who uphold opposing views are called to the Terrorist Investigation Division to be questioned. While committing all this we are asked not to talk regarding that as the UNO would take action. Do we have to stop talking regarding these atrocities or shouldn't the government stop their anti-democratic agenda?

When the editor of 'Lanka Irida' newspaper is arrested we speak against it and struggle against it. When 'Lanka Irida' news paper office is sealed we not only talk against it but we struggle against such action. When Gen. Sarath Fonseka is arrested we carry out struggle until he is released. What is wrong is not what we we do regarding these violations but the agenda of the government to carry out these violations. It is the government that has paved the way for the improper intrusion of the UNO in the affairs of the country."