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The
government,
while
vehemently
condemning
the
recent
incidents
of
violence
said
that
some
culprits
have
already
been
detained
and
speedy
action
would be
taken
against
the
perpetrators
of
incidents
of
violence.
Condemning
the
violent
incidents
at
Polonnaruwa
on
Thursday
(January
13,
2010)
including
the
reported
attack
on a
local
BBC
correspondent,
the
presidential
Secretariat
stated
that the
government
would
not
tolerate
any acts
of
violence
against
civilians,
politicians,
local
and
international
observers
and
journalists.
The
statement
added
that
action
has
already
been
taken to
apprehend
those
responsible
for this
violence
and the
attack
on the
journalist,
and make
them
face the
full
force of
the law.
Following
is the
full
text of
the
Statement:
Statement
on the
incident
at
Polonnaruwa
and
reported
attack
on
journalist
The
Government
vehemently
condemns
the
violent
incidents
at
Polonnaruwa
yesterday
(January
13,
2010)
including
the
reported
attack
on a
local
BBC
correspondent.
It will
not
tolerate
any acts
of
violence
against
civilians,
politicians,
local
and
international
observers
and
journalists
in the
current
situation.
Action
has
already
been
taken to
apprehend
those
responsible
for this
violence
and the
attack
on the
journalist,
and make
them
face the
full
force of
the law.
The
Government
will not
allow
anything
to
undermine
this
historic
election,
the
first
since
the end
of a
quarter
of a
century
of
organized
terrorism
in Sri
Lanka –
under
which
free and
fair
elections
were
regularly
obstructed
– and
the
people
in all
areas of
the
country
now have
the
freedom
to
participate
in the
electoral
process.
With
regard
to the
incident
at
Tangalle
on
January
12,
2010,
two
persons
have
already
been
arrested
by the
Police,
and
further
investigations
are
proceeding.
Contrary
to media
and
other
reports,
there is
increasing
evidence
that the
victim
in this
incident
of
violence
was a
strong
supporter
of the
President,
and not
of any
other
candidate
in this
election.
The
authorities
concerned
have not
yet
concluded
that
this was
a
politically
motivated
or
election
related
incident.
The
Government
is
committed
to
ensuring
that
violence
will not
triumph,
and is
taking
every
step
possible
to
ensure
the
integrity
of the
electoral
process.
Presidential
Secretariat
January
14, 2010
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