Sri Lanka's main opposition to boycott national Independence Day celebrations

Sri Lanka's main opposition United National Party (UNP) said today that the party will not participate in the national Independence Day celebrations on February 4.

UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake told a press conference that the UNP will be boycotting the celebrations.

According to Attanayake, the country could not celebrate Independence Day when the real war hero who defeated terrorism was behind bars.

The UNP has planned a vigil on February 4 calling for former Army Commander and Democratic National Alliance (DNA) Leader Sarath Fonseka's release from prison.