Mar 21, Colombo: Having failed to justify the party’s decision to not to participate in the recently conducted Batticaloa polls to its supporters, UNP MP Lakshaman Kirialla says that the party will announce the its final decision on the Provincial Council polls on Mar 25.

Speaking at a gathering of UNP supporters, the MP brought his latest allegation against the government saying that “Pillian group” (TMVP) has demanded the government to “remove all STF (Police Special Task Force) camps from the Eastern Province, if it to support the government at the Polls,”

Referring to a promise made by the government during now abrogated peace talks in Geneva in 2007, the Minister said that the government must disarm all groups before the election. He said that he would challenge the government to contest for the election without getting support of the armed groups.

Many political observers say it is the 20th successive defeat UNP suffered under the leadership of Ranil Wickremasinghe when he refused to participate in the Batticaloa local polls. Reportedly the arrival of Wickremasinghe to the pavilion during the recent Royal- Thomian annual cricket match was announced as the coming of the “permanent leader of the opposition”.