Oct 09, Colombo: According to Sri Lanka's main opposition, United National Party (UNP) sources, the government has prevented air lifting the remains of late, North Central Province Opposition Leader Major General Janaka Perera and his wife to Anuradhapura.

UNP General Secretary, Tissa Attanayake MP talking to media accused the government for not allowing to take the bodies as agreed earlier to Anuradhapura by a helicopter which is paid by the party funds.

“The body was kept at the Ratmalana airport for 4 hours in getting a helicopter as agreed earlier. But as it was not provided, the bodies were then taken by main road to Anuradhapura which too was prevented. According to instructions issued by the Inspector General of Police, all major cities were avoided and secondary routes were allowed for the vehicle convoy to take the body. This is disgraceful and the government shouldn't take political revenges from a dead body,” he said.

However, the government has said that an official request was not made to the Defense Ministry for a helicopter and without a request being made it is difficult to release a helicopter in short notice as they are being used in the northern war zone.