By YOHAN PERERA Courtesy The Daily Mirror

Colombo, Jan. 15 (Daily Mirror)- The Government as a whole and the police should handle the Yukthiya operation diligently to avoid international intervention which may lead to its end, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Tissa Attanayake said today.

The operation, which is a good, should be handled with care as UN Human Rights office (OHCHR) has already focused its attention on it. It has already voiced its concern saying it has led to violation of human rights. This may cause a fresh problem to the country,” Attanayake told a news briefing.

The UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) said on Friday it was very concerned over Sri Lanka’s adoption of a heavily security-based response” as a means of tackling illegal drug abuse. Its spokesperson Liz Throssell alleged that some of the 29,000 persons who have reportedly been arrested on drug-related charges since 17 December have alleged that they have been ill-treated or tortured.

We won’t oppose the Yukthiya operation as apprehending drug traffickers is good. However, it should not become a fresh issue to the country. Also  it should not be used as a political tool,” he added.

Referring to the political developments, the SJB National Organizer said his party is in the process of appointing a committee to handle talks with other parties to form an alliance.

Our working committee has given its approval for our party leader Sajith Premadasa to form an alliance with other parties. He is now in the process of appointing a committee to talk to other parties. Our candidate will be Sajith Premadasa. We hope that he will pose a huge challenge to incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe at the next Presidential election,” Tissa Attanayake said