Sri Lanka, Sept. 5 -- The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) has described the arrest and remand of its National Organiser and Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) as a "serious attack" on the country's democratic process and an act of political retaliation by the government.

In a statement issued today (05) under the signature of SLPP General Secretary, Attorney-at-Law Sagara Kariyawasam, the party alleged that the government had ordered the arrest out of fear of the growing public support for a major political rally scheduled to be held in Anuradhapura on September 12.

According to the SLPP, the rally had been organised under the leadership of Namal Rajapaksa an...