Nil Balakaya denies attack on artistes

31 December 2014 01:33 am

Nil Balakaya, the youth organisation of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), yesterday condemned the attack on a group of artistes at Kumbukgate in Kurunegala and said that it would take action against any of its members if found guilty of being involved in the attack.


A group of young artistes were attacked by goons while conducting a street campaign in support of presidential candidate Maithripala Sirisena on Monday.


Nil Balakaya media spokesman MP Eric Weerawardena, while rejecting the allegation that Nil Balakaya was behind the attack, urged that an unbiased investigation be launched into the incident.


"We request the police to launch an unbiased probe to determine the culprits who carried out the attack. However, we deny the allegations that the Nil Balakaya carried out the attack. These are only attempts to tarnish the image of the organisation and its activities," he told a news conference held at SLFP Headquarters in Colombo.


He said it was difficult to determine whether those who attacked were real members of the organisation because of the current unstable political trends in the country.


Western Provincial Councillor Susara Dinal said if any of their members were involved in the attack, action would be taken against them.


North-Western Provincial Councillor Piyumal Herath said he was not aware whether his supporters were at the location of the attack and called on the people to provide any information they had to the police.


Earlier, Minister Dullas Alahapperuma condemned the attack and said the act could not be accepted in a civilized society, while Western Provincial Councillor Udaya Gammanpila said these attempts would only damage the image of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. (Lahiru Pothmulla)